Get to Know Toronto’s Job Market

Northeastern opened its Toronto campus in 2016 to meet the needs of the region’s thriving innovation economy and diverse employer base.

Toronto is experiencing a massive expansion in terms of economic opportunity and population growth, making it an excellent time to be living and working in Canada’s largest and most diverse city. According to the 2016 Toronto Employment Survey, the city added 38,740 jobs in 2016, an increase of 2.7 percent over 2015. Toronto’s population is also growing—and is expected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next quarter century, according to the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

Toronto prides itself on being one of world’s most ethnically diverse cities, with more than 47 percent of the population belonging to a visible minority population group, according to the City of Toronto. The city is also economically diverse, with technology leading the industry pack.

Known as Canada’s high-tech hub, there are more than 14,600 technology companies in Toronto employing approximately 159,000 professionals, according to the City of Toronto. LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, and Twitter have all set up offices in Toronto in the past few years and, with more than 4,000 active startups, Toronto is almost on par with Silicon Valley.

Despite the overall increase in employment opportunities and influx of talented professionals, Toronto’s employers are having a difficult time filling certain positions, with approximately 20 percent of job openings in the area preferring or requiring an advanced degree in a number of fields, including:

Regulatory Affairs

The Conference Board of Canada identified the regulatory field as one facing a shortage in its June 2013 report, “The Cost of Ontario’s Skills Gap.” Candidates with more specialized knowledge and post-graduate degrees were especially desirable, according to a report by BioTalent Canada.

Project Management

Project management jobs are in high demand in Ontario, and are one of the top 10 occupations employers are experiencing difficulty trying to fill, according to the Conference Board of Canada. By 2020, 15.7 million new project management jobs will be created worldwide, according to the Project Management Institute.

Cyber Security

With such a tech-heavy focus, it’s no wonder Toronto is carving out a niche in cyber security. The city is currently taking a “leadership role in the digital world with respect to consumer privacy,” according to the City of Toronto.

Cyber crimes are on the rise, costing Canada $3 billion in 2013 alone, according to leading cyber security company Symantec. As that number increases, the firm notes the industry will experience a projected shortfall of 1.5 million cyber security professionals globally by 2019.

One way to break into these high-demand industries is by earning an advanced degree. Visit our Toronto website to learn more about how you can stand apart when applying for your next role.