From medicine to gaming, here's why London is attracting tech talent from across the continent
CBC
London is among North America's top emerging tech markets, according to a report compiled from Statistics Canada data by commercial real estate company, CBRE.
Their 2024 ranking of up-and-coming tech markets across the continent placed London at the number four spot, up from eighth place in 2023, and 10th in 2022.
"It came as no surprise to me, and I'm sure it came as no surprise to a lot of the tech companies in our community," said Christina Fox, the CEO of TechAlliance, which promotes and supports tech companies in the region to foster growth in the sector.
The ranking took a number of factors, like total employment, employment growth, wages and education into account. It defined tech jobs as those in software development and programming, computer support, databases and digital systems, engineering and IT.
Between 2018 and 2023, London's tech employment jumped 88.5 per cent — the highest on the list — with a total of 16,400 tech jobs in the city in 2023 and an average tech sector salary of almost $91,000, or $66,873 US dollars.
According to Fox, London's rise as an emerging tech hub is the result of perfect conditions for growth, and a concerted effort to capitalize on those conditions.
"When we landed on [the ranking] in spot number 10, we don't think it was by accident. The rise since then is a result of taking a shot at the moon to be among the top. London has what it takes to be in that top spot," she said, adding that technology leaders, educators and politicians played a role in those efforts.
London shares many traits with some of the world's top tech markets, according to Fox. Between its relative affordability, educated and diverse population, positioning near major cities and rapid growth rate, it's an ideal candidate, she said.
For companies like game development studio Big Blue Bubble, the benefits of the city are clear.
The company, which employs over 70 people and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is best known for its hit mobile game series My Singing Monsters, the flagship game of which has been downloaded over 150 million times.
"The company started in London, and over the years it's been an excellent spot for scouting and working with new talent," said David Fardell, the company's marketing director.
According to Fardell, much of the company's talent comes from Western University and Fanshawe College, which isn't unusual for London's well-respected and ever-growing video game industry.
Fardell also said the studio's location has been a benefit to employees as well.
"Downtown London is an interesting place to be through most of the year, with a ton of festivals going on all the time. It's a great place for folks in the studio to just go out and enjoy the city during lunchtime," he said.
