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Best City To Find A Job in Canada

If someone you knew needed a job fast, where would you advise them to move? A few years ago you probably would have said Alberta without thinking about it. Today, things aren’t so clear.

But the latest edition of BMO’s regional labour market reports card gives us some idea where to look.

And the best place right now? Guelph, Ontario. The small city about 90 km west of Toronto topped the list for its “robust job growth, population inflows, a puny 4.2 per cent jobless rate and the highest share of the population that is working,” BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic wrote.

Like some other cities in the “rust belt” around Toronto, Guelph has benefited from cheaper energy prices and a lower loonie that is boosting non-energy exports.

But let’s face it: It would have been better if a larger city topped this list. With a population of 121,000 and about 97,000 jobs, Guelph can hardly replace Alberta. So here's an idea: Try nearby Toronto instead. The city soared 22 spots in the ranking, to 7th from 26th.

Meanwhile, Calgary fell 12 spots in the report card, to 18th place, but Edmonton is hanging in there, still a top-10 city to find work in Canada, at 6th place.

Here are the top 10 cities for work in Canada, according to BMO.

1. Guelph, Ont.

Annual population growth: 1.2%
Annual employment growth: 9.1%
Unemployment rate: 4.2% (down 0.9 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 72%

2. Regina, Sask.

Annual population growth: 2%
Annual employment growth: 1.1%
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (up 0.5 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 69.8%

3. Quebec City, Que.

 Annual population growth: 0.7%
Annual employment growth: 4.7%
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (down 0.5 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 66.3%

4. Moncton, N.B.

Annual population growth: 1.3%
Annual employment growth: 6.3%
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (down down 0.6 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 63.9%

5. Vancouver, B.C.

 Annual population growth: 1.9%
Annual employment growth: 4.2%
Unemployment rate: 5.7% (down 0.3 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 62.3%

6. Edmonton, Alta.

 Annual population growth: 2.3%
Annual employment growth: 3.7%
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (up 1.4 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 69.8%

7. Toronto, Ont.

 Annual population growth: 1.7%
Annual employment growth: 4.7%
Unemployment rate: 7% (down one percentage point in a year)
Share of population with a job: 62.6%

8. Kingston, Ont.

 Annual population growth: 0.8%
Annual employment growth: 6.5%
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (down 0.2 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 61%

9. London, Ont.

 Annual population growth: 0.9%
Annual employment growth: 3.8%
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (down 1.1 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 60.3%

10. Winnipeg, Man.

Annual population growth: 1.5%
Annual employment growth: 2.4%
Unemployment rate: 6.1% (up 0.4 percentage points in a year)
Share of population with a job: 60.3%