Canada’s tech hiring market has stabilised — but competition for AI, cybersecurity, and senior finance talent is intensifying.
That’s the headline from Morgan McKinley’s 2026 Canada Salary Guide, which shows technology salaries rising approximately 7% in 2025, outpacing most other professional sectors. Growth is expected to remain strongest at the senior and specialist level in 2026, while mid-level salary increases moderate.
After the hiring slowdown of 2023–2024, recruitment activity has picked up across finance, technology, healthcare, construction, and professional services. But employers are approaching expansion cautiously, with more deliberate hiring processes and tighter skills alignment.
While unemployment remains low nationally, acute shortages persist in technical and specialist roles — particularly experienced finance leaders, AI engineers, cybersecurity professionals, and data specialists.
Canada’s technology sector now employs more than 1.4 million professionals, representing roughly 7% of the national workforce. Demand remains strongest in artificial intelligence, data engineering, cloud computing, and cybersecurity — areas tied directly to digital transformation and resilience initiatives.
Rather than broad headcount growth, employers are prioritising candidates who can deliver measurable business impact, strengthen cyber defences, and accelerate innovation. Recruitment cycles are longer, assessments more rigorous, and hiring decisions increasingly strategic.
Workforce models are also evolving. Organisations are blending permanent and contract roles to maintain agility, particularly for AI deployment, cloud migration, and cybersecurity compliance projects. Hybrid work policies, competition from global remote employers, and immigration dynamics continue to influence workforce strategy.
Most In-Demand Tech Roles for 2026
- AI & Machine Learning Engineers
- Data Engineers & Analytics Specialists
- Cloud Architects & Infrastructure Leads
- Cybersecurity Engineers & Security Architects
- Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Analysts
- DevOps & Automation Engineers
Stan Muszel, Director of Recruitment Solutions at Morgan McKinley Canada, said the market has “turned a corner” after two challenging years — but with a more disciplined tone.
“Hiring is picking up, but employers are more deliberate than ever,” Muszel said. “Recruitment cycles are longer, assessments are more rigorous, and shortages in areas like AI engineering and senior finance leadership are reshaping workforce planning.”
He added that organisations investing in flexibility and upskilling will have the advantage in 2026.
“Specialist talent will only become harder to secure. Companies building those pipelines now will be better positioned for long-term growth.”
After two years defined by cost-cutting and hiring freezes, the guide suggests Canadian tech hiring is no longer contracting — but it is becoming more selective, more strategic, and increasingly driven by high-impact specialist talent.