Two cities in Canada have been named among the world’s top 20 for career growth.
Whether you’re just beginning or looking to pivot, many factors can help kick-start your career, one being location.
“We spend around 2,000 hours a year at work, so it makes a huge difference to our overall happiness when we enjoy it. And location plays a big part in that,” reads a new report from Big 7. “Some cities are launchpads for career growth, with high earning potential, encouraging work environments, strong job markets, and more.”
The travel site analyzed over 100 cities worldwide, ranking them based on key factors that impact professional success.
It narrowed the list to the 20 best cities for career growth, and two spots in Canada made the cut.
The ranking is based on the following criteria: job market strength, cost of living, quality of life, industry concentration, salary vs. cost of living ratio, work culture and environment, transport and connectivity, access to talent, government and business support, and cultural and social opportunities.
The highest-ranking Canadian city is Toronto, in 11th place.
“One advantage of Toronto over Vancouver is the slightly cheaper average rent price ($2,360 as of February), while workers bring home the same average salary, meaning you have a little more expendable income,” reads the report.
It adds that there’s a high demand for professionals in healthcare, tech and finance in Ontario’s capital city.
Big 7 also noted Toronto’s public transportation network and airports, which help connect it to the rest of the world.
Following closely behind is Vancouver in 12th place. The report says it’s an excellent city for those in tech, finance and green industries.
“The emphasis on the green industry goes hand-in-hand with Vancouver’s outdoor lifestyle, which suits those who enjoy spending their time in nature – Vancouver’s scenery is some of the most beautiful in the world,” reads the report.
Big 7 says this lifestyle also spreads into the city’s work culture, which is very relaxed “with a huge emphasis on work-life balance.”
“This, combined with attractive healthcare policies and education opportunities, make Vancouver one of the greatest cities for career growth,” reads the report.
It also highlights the city’s leading universities. The report does note the high average cost of rent ($2,550 as of January) but says the competitive salaries can offset it slightly.
If you’re looking for career growth outside of Canada, the first spot went to Oslo, Norway.
“It has one of the highest average salaries in Europe – €99,707.84 (C$154,706.68), and reasonable rental prices – with one-bedroom places coming in at around €1,140 (C$1768.82),” reads the report. “This gives it the highest salary-to-cost-of-living ratio on this list, at an incredible 87.463.”
Big 7 says Oslo also boasts a huge talent pool, thanks to its renowned universities. This is supported by its job market strength, which is focused on tech, energy, and healthcare.
“Like many other Scandinavian cities, Oslo’s work culture is relaxed, with a strong focus on employee welfare. It is also known for being flexible and inclusive,” reads the report.
If you want to explore your options, check out the full ranking.
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