Where you build your career can have a big impact on where it goes. In Waterloo, tech professionals don’t have to choose between meaningful work and quality of life. They can have both.
That’s because one of the key drivers behind Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem is the impressive lineup of global brands and homegrown companies that call the region home.
Global companies like Toyota and OpenText, industry leaders like Google and Sun Life and high-growth scale-ups like Faire and ApplyBoard continue to invest in the Waterloo area – bringing jobs, innovation and opportunity to our community.
Unlike many smaller tech markets, professionals in Waterloo don’t need to relocate to Toronto, New York or San Francisco to get global experience. Instead, they can build a career here, with the added benefits of living in a smaller community – including shorter commutes and a lower cost of living.
Let’s explore why companies are expanding to Waterloo – and how that’s opening doors for tech talent.
Why companies choose Waterloo
For growing companies, the Waterloo community offers something rare: access to one of North America’s most concentrated tech talent markets – paired with the affordability and collaborative spirit of a smaller community.
Waterloo is ranked as North America’s #1 small tech talent market, with 9.6% of its workforce in tech – the fourth highest concentration in North America.
Businesses here also benefit from lower corporate tax rates and operating costs compared to major US tech hubs, along with a variety of government incentive programs.
The region’s supportive infrastructure – including incubators like Velocity, Communitech and the Accelerator Centre – offers companies the resources to scale faster and smarter.
As our talent base deepens, more companies recognize the value of expanding or re-locating here. And that growth creates more opportunities for tech professionals – reinforcing the region’s status as a leading tech hub.
Why talent chooses Waterloo
For tech professionals, the Waterloo region’s robust and expanding ecosystem offers a rare mix of career opportunities, flexibility and impact.
They’re never locked into one type of opportunity. In Waterloo, skilled professionals can explore specializations, sharpen their skills while working for top brands and build connections with experts and peers in their industry. All without ever leaving the region.
Career opportunities could include:
- Working on global projects at companies like Google, SAP or Toyota, where teams are building solutions used by millions worldwide
- Joining companies like ApplyBoard or Faire, with a chance to wear multiple hats and help shape the trajectory of a scaling company
- Driving innovation in specialized fields such as quantum technology with ISARA or Quantum Benchmark, or automotive R&D with Toyota and other mobility startups
- Tapping into the Waterloo community’s deep cybersecurity network, with companies like Arctic Wolf and eSentire offering roles on the frontlines of digital defence
- If the bigger brands don’t appeal, there’s a vibrant startup ecosystem with exciting companies working in everything from quantum technology and advanced materials to artificial intelligence and robotics.
Top local and global talent
Waterloo’s tech ecosystem is built on both homegrown and global talent.
With one of the highest tech talent concentrations in North America and a reputation for world-class education, the region draws skilled professionals from near and far.
The region’s post-secondary schools produce thousands of skilled graduates every year, and the University of Waterloo is one of the world’s best and biggest tech universities. And thanks to Canada’s immigration programs, companies can also recruit international talent faster and with fewer barriers than in many other countries.
For tech professionals, that means joining diverse teams and building careers alongside people from around the world. For employers, it means access to a deep, global talent pool ready to contribute.
Waterloo’s growth isn’t slowing down
Waterloo has moved beyond being an “emerging” tech hub. It’s now a proven destination where talent and top companies fuel each other’s success.
As the ecosystem expands, so do the opportunities – for tech professionals looking to build careers and for companies looking to grow their teams.