Vancouver’s technology labour market remained steady in November, supported by modest gains across engineering and digital roles while the broader provincial economy showed a measured rebound.
Labour Market Overview
Canada added 54,000 jobs in November, bringing the national unemployment rate down to 6.5 per cent. Much of this growth came from part-time positions and increased youth participation, according to the latest national labour force survey.
British Columbia posted an increase of approximately 6,200 jobs during the month. Hiring in technology and health care helped offset declines in retail, real estate and several consumer-facing sectors. The provincial figures point to a labour market that is cooling but still capable of generating pockets of growth.
Vancouver’s Technology Sector
While there is no dedicated city-level tech employment release for November, longer-term indicators show Vancouver’s technology ecosystem remains on an upward trajectory.
Over the past five years, the Lower Mainland has seen a 30.7 per cent increase in technology-related occupations. This represents roughly 23,200 additional jobs, bringing the total tech workforce in the region to about 98,700 people. Growth has been driven by ongoing activity in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, enterprise software, gaming and visual effects.
This expansion continues to position Vancouver as one of Canada’s most competitive technology hubs, with a strong mix of startups, mid-sized firms and global engineering teams.
Hiring Trends in November
Recruiting activity during November suggests a selective but stable hiring environment. Software engineering, cloud infrastructure, machine learning and data-focused roles accounted for a significant portion of new postings across both established companies and scaling startups.
Contract and project-based technical roles became more visible during the month, reflecting a broader national shift toward flexible staffing arrangements. Salaries for engineering and technical professionals remained stable, with no significant downward adjustments reported.
Outlook
Vancouver enters December with a cautious but generally positive hiring landscape. The region’s technology sector continues to show resilience compared with other North American markets, supported by ongoing investor activity, a steady pipeline of skilled workers and continued demand for AI and cloud-focused talent.
TechScoop Canada will continue to monitor monthly conditions as new data becomes available and will track hiring trends across Vancouver and the wider British Columbia technology economy.
