For the second year in a row, Calgary recorded the fastest tech job growth rate among major North American hubs — proof of the city’s rising momentum as a global destination for technology and innovation.
CBRE’s new 2025 Scoring Tech Talent report ranked Calgary 17th overall among the continent’s top 50 markets, moving up three spots from last year. Between 2021 and 2024, Calgary’s tech workforce expanded by 61.1 per cent, adding 24,500 jobs to reach 64,600 workers.
“Back-to-back recognition as North America’s fastest-growing tech talent market solidifies Calgary’s place in the global tech scene,” said Brad Parry, President & CEO of Calgary Economic Development and CEO of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF). “It’s proof that the Blue Sky City is a destination where companies see opportunities to scale locally and globally, and talent sees possibility to not only build a career, but a life."
Powered by a young, diverse workforce
Tech talent now makes up 7.9 per cent of Calgary’s total employment, well above the report's average of 5.3 per cent. Calgary is one of North America’s youngest large markets, with double-digit growth in residents in their 20s and 30s since 2018, and one of its most diverse tech hubs — 16 per cent of local tech workers are from underrepresented groups and over 25 per cent are women.
This growing pool of talent is the engine for Calgary’s Innovation Strategy — a bold plan to make Calgary Canada’s innovation capital. The strategy — anchored in the creation of citywide, sector-specific nodes — is projected to generate 187,000 new jobs and $28 billion in economic impact by 2034.
Calgary also ranks among the top centres for software engineering. Nearly 70 per cent of software engineers work in the tech industry — the third-highest concentration across the continent, behind only Vancouver and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Closing the talent gap
Calgary’s tech employment is soaring — but jobs are being created faster than local institutions can supply talent. Between 2021 and 2023, post-secondary schools produced 3,302 tech graduates, while employers added 24,500 new roles from 2022 to 2024. This gap underscores the importance of talent attraction and retention — a central pillar of Uplook: An Action Plan for Our Economy, Calgary’s long-term economic roadmap.
At the same time, Calgary’s affordability gives it a powerful edge. With an average annual wage in the tech sector of US$76,482 and lower living and business costs than other major cities, Calgary is one of North America’s most cost-competitive tech hubs. Paired with deliberate strategies like Uplook, Calgary’s Innovation Strategy and targeted OCIF investments, that affordability makes Calgary an ideal, long-term destination for companies scaling on the global stage.
Innovation-driven growth
Calgary’s rise is powered by its strength in technology. The city is home to more than 1,000 core tech companies across fintech, SaaS, AI, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure — supported by a network of over 40 accelerators, incubators and venture funds.
Local unicorns like Neo Financial and Benevity are proving what’s possible here, while global leaders such as Infosys, IBM, Mphasis and Applexus have chosen Calgary to expand their digital capacity. From AI and data centres to fintech and quantum computing, Calgary is building the platforms that will define Canada’s next chapter in technology — and cement the city’s role as a place of innovation.
Calgary’s momentum in tech talent reflects the city’s long-term vision to diversify and lead in innovation. Learn how Uplook: An Action Plan for Our Economy and Calgary’s Innovation Strategy are working together to attract companies, capital and talent — and build a resilient, future-ready economy.