May 29, 2026
We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling through job boards in Canada’s biggest, most expensive cities, seeing hundreds of applicants competing for a single position. It feels like you need three degrees, a decade of experience and a lucky charm just to get an interview. When you factor in the skyrocketing cost of rent, it’s easy to feel stuck.
If you are trying to find your financial footing, it may be time to change your geographic perspective. Have you ever considered looking north?
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During a recent immigration webinar hosted by the New Canadians TV Network, experts and residents broke down exactly why communities outside the standard metropolitan hubs are worth your attention. It turns out that stepping outside major cities can be the ultimate career hack.
The career growth you have been waiting for
When Afreen Shabbir first immigrated to Canada two decades ago, she faced a classic job-seeker bottleneck in a highly populated urban area. The competition was incredibly stiff. To pivot her strategy, she looked toward Dryden, a town in northwestern Ontario.
“Up here in the North, there’s a lot of room for growth,” Shabbir said during the panel. “There’s a lot of room for you to build those networks, for you to build those connections and then leverage them towards your career.”
Instead of fighting through tightly formed professional networks in the big cities, she found an ecosystem where fresh talent can stand out. Her secret was diving into the local fabric by volunteering, attending local business events and joining community activities.
“It is very much that sort of a community, because they want to grow together, because they want to develop together, and there’s a sense of shared prosperity,” Shabbir said. “If you are able to carry yourself in that way, you will reap the rewards without a doubt.”
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The numbers behind the northern job market
This is not just about feel-good anecdotes. The macroeconomic data backs it up. Northern Ontario is facing a massive demographic shift, meaning local employers are actively hunting for people to fill open roles.
According to data shared during the webinar, roughly 20% of the northern workforce is expected to retire by 2035. Right now, there is an average of 5,100 unfilled job vacancies across the region. The labour market requires a steady influx of fresh faces just to keep the wheels turning.
“Research has indicated that 2,000 new residents are needed per year in Northern Ontario to be able to just sustain the labour market the way it is, never mind any growth,” explained panelist Beyak.
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The openings span nearly every industry imaginable, including healthcare, hospitality, transportation, shipping and resource sectors. For example, St. Joseph’s Care Group in Thunder Bay employs 2,500 people and is constantly recruiting for both specialized healthcare roles and vital support staff.
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How to make the transition work for you
If you want to capitalize on these geographic opportunities, you need a smart game plan.
First, use local employment resources. Organizations like Sudbury.com report that tapping into settlement services can give you a massive advantage. Recruiter Trevor Hamalainan noted that while breaking into large organizations can sometimes be tough initially, consistency pays off. He advises job seekers to customize every single application and “access those services in your community that help with job searching.”
Second, check your credentials. If you work in a regulated field like nursing or physiotherapy, you must align with provincial regulatory bodies. Look for northern employers who actively help candidates navigate and demystify these licensing processes.
Gerard Keledjian, the managing director of New Horizons Media, summarized the region well by calling it a “huge area full of opportunities, full of nature and full of amazing people.” While he acknowledged that no single region is a perfect fit for absolutely everyone, the lower cost of living and dedicated regional immigration pathways make it an option you cannot afford to ignore.
If your current budget is stretched to the limit, expanding your map north might be the quickest way to fast-track your savings and your resume.
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Leslie Kennedy served as an editor at Thomson Reuters and for Star Media Group, followed by a number of years as a writer and editor and content manager in marketing communications, before returning to her editorial roots. She is a graduate of Humber College’s post-graduate journalism program and has been a professional writer and editor ever since.
