Hamilton ranked top 2 in North America for up-and-coming tech talent markets

Hamilton, ON- July 17, 2019 –   As part of its 2019 Scoring Tech Talent Report, CBRE ranked Hamilton in the top 2 in North America for tech cities of “opportunity”.  Over the course of the last five years, Hamilton’s tech scene has grown by 52% and was named Canada’s fastest growing mid-sized city for tech talent by CBRE in 2018.

“Hamilton’ tech scene is growing rapidly and new spaces, ideas, and collaborations are putting ‘Innovation to Work’ each day,” said the City of Hamilton’s Acting Director of Economic Development Judy Lam.  “Requests for brick and beam office space are flooding in to our office and we are working to attract and retain this creative class in Hamilton- which a ranking such as this one will greatly assist in such an endeavor.”

CBRE states it calculates ranking scores using 13 unique metrics, including tech talent supply, growth, concentration, cost, completed tech degrees, industry outlook for tech job growth, and market outlook for office and rental housing cost growth.  Top North American cities overall, San Francisco, Seattle, and Toronto, earned scores of 84.79, 73.82, and 69.88, respectively.  

Hamilton is located only 45 minutes from Toronto, enjoys one of the top broadband networks in Canada, has office leasing rates a third to one-half the costs of Toronto, is a major city in Canada’s tech triangle along with Toronto and Waterloo, and enjoys ample public transportation access to Toronto.  As well, the largest cohort of Hamilton’s economy is the millennial generation.  

In the past two years, Hamilton has seen a number of significant tech related investments from corporations such as L3 Wescam (330,000 square foot Canadian Head Office), Stryker (127,000 square foot Canadian Head Office), Pipeline Studios (leading Canadian animation firm working with international brands such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Nelvana), and IBM Canada (Innovation Centre utilizing Watson technology for Digital Health research).

 “Certainly the growth of Toronto’s tech scene has had a positive effect on Hamilton’s economy- as talent is moving here for access to Canada’s top research intensive university (McMaster University) and college (Mohawk College), a supportive and collaborative tech community working together to build the scene, and a culturally rich quality of life,” said Economic Development’s Manager of Business Development Norm Schleehahn.

Hamilton’s Economic Development Office is the central point of contact for business assistance. Its services are geared to serve new start-up companies, corporate relocations, and the expansion and retention of existing business.  Its mission is to serve as the catalyst for continued economic growth, job creation, and revitalization in Hamilton.

Media Contact: 

Michael Marini

Coordinator, Marketing

Phone: 905-977-0883 (cell)

Email: Michael.Marini@hamilton.ca