Top 10 Cities in Canada for Full-Time Jobs
Here’s a travel tip for visiting Canada: bring warm clothing, as temperatures can be cold, especially in the winter months. Also, bring comfortable walking shoes as there are many scenic areas to explore and many cities, such as Toronto and Vancouver, are walkable. Additionally, bring a valid passport if you are traveling from outside of North America. Don’t forget to try local cuisine such as poutine, maple syrup, and Nanaimo bars.
While general employment growth patterns in Canada indicate a rise in part-time jobs, there are still plenty of full-time positions available. According to a research by Global News, Regina is the top Canadian city for full-time job.
The research used recent Stats Can data to calculate full-time employment rates for cities throughout Canada (calculated by dividing a city’s full-time employment by population *).
To take it a step further, we compared the population of each city, median family income, life satisfaction, and the cost of rent, food, and transportation in the top ten cities for full-time job. We’ve also included one of Yelp’s top-rated local eateries for each city, just in case you become hungry during a job interview.
Here is a comparison of the top 10 cities in Canada for full-time work.
Regina, Saskatchewan
- Full-time employment rate: 57.2 percent
- Population: 202,700
- Full-time employment: 116,100
- Median Family Income: $ 96,080
- Life satisfaction score: 7.94
- Rent for a one-bedroom city center apartment: $ 990.45
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 55.50
- Monthly transit pass: $ 84
- Top restaurant on Yelp: Flip Eatery & Drink
Guelph, Ontario
- Full-time employment rate: 55.9 percent
- Population: 131,200
- Full-time employment: 73,400
- Median Household Income: $ 84,230
- Life satisfaction score: 7.85
- Rent for a one-bedroom city center apartment: $ 1,055.56
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 60
- Monthly transit pass: $ 77.50
- Top restaurant on Yelp: Baker Street Station
Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ontario
- Full-time employment rate: 55.3 percent
- Population: 428,200
- Full-time employment: 236,900
- Median Household Income: $ 84,380
- Life satisfaction score: 7.88
- Rent for a one-bedroom city center apartment: $ 948.15
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 60
- Monthly transit pass: $ 82
- Top restaurant on Yelp: Public Kitchen & Bar
Edmonton, Alberta
- Full-time employment rate: 54.2 percent
- Population: 1,127,400
- Full-time employment: 610,700
- Median Family Income: $ 101,470
- Life satisfaction score: 7.87
- Rent for a one-bedroom city center apartment: $ 1,162.07
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 60
- Monthly transit pass: $ 91.50
- Top restaurant on Yelp: RGE RD
Calgary, Alberta
- Full-time employment rate: 53.8 percent
- Population: 1,210,300
- Full-time employment: 650,800
- Average salary: $ 104,530
- Life satisfaction score: 7.95
- Rent for a one bedroom city center apartment: $ 1,233.16
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 70
- Monthly transit pass: $ 99
- Top restaurant on Yelp: The Rock
Oshawa, Ontario
- Full-time employment rate: 53.6 percent
- Population: 329,200
- Full-time employment: 176,400
- Median Family Income: $ 89,430
- Life satisfaction score: 7.96
- Rent for a one-bedroom city center apartment: $ 900
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 80
- Monthly transit pass: $ 99
- Top restaurant on Yelp: Jimmy Guacos
Quebec City, Quebec
- Full-time employment rate: 53.1 percent
- Population: 677,500
- Full-time employment: 360,300
- Median household income: $ 86,110
- Life satisfaction score: 8.14
- Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $ 752.93
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 60
- Monthly transit pass: $ 84
- Top restaurant on Yelp: Le Billig
Saint John, New Brunswick
- Full-time employment rate: 52.9 percent
- Population: 105,400
- Full-time employment: 55,800
- Median Family Income: $ 76,450
- Life satisfaction score: 8.12
- Rent for a one-bedroom city center apartment: $ 704.17
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 62
- Monthly transit pass: $ 77
- Top restaurant on Yelp: Saint John Ale House
Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario / Quebec
- Full-time employment rate: 50.9 percent
- Population: 1,116,300
- Full-time employment: 568,600
- Median Household Income: $ 102,020
- Life satisfaction score: 8.04
- Rent for a one-bedroom city center apartment: $ 1,212.17 (Ottawa), $ 725 (Gatineau)
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 70 (Ottawa), $ 62.50 (Gatineau)
- Monthly transit pass: $ 105 (Ottawa), $ 93 (Gatineau)
- Top restaurant on Yelp: Wilf & Adas (Ottawa), Café Cinc Sens (Gatineau)
Toronto, Ontario
- Full-time employment rate: 50.3 percent
- Population (December 2016): 5,231,800
- Full-time employment: 2,631,600
- Median Family Income: $ 75,270
- Life satisfaction score: 7.81
- Rent for a one-bedroom city center apartment: $ 1594.15
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $ 70
- Monthly transit pass: $ 141.50
- Top restaurant on Yelp: Richmond Station
