Calgary Tech Sector Sees Record Growth, Adds 28,900 Jobs

Calgary Tech Sector Sees Record Growth, Adds 28,900 Jobs

Calgary's technology sector is cementing its reputation as a North American powerhouse, with new data showing the industry has posted the continent's highest growth rate for the third consecutive year. The CBRE Group report reveals a 56 per cent expansion, adding 28,900 jobs to the local economy — a figure that places the city more than 20 percentage points ahead of the next metropolitan area on the continent. The growth signals a significant shift for a city traditionally associated with oil and gas, as it continues to diversify its economic base.

Tags: Calgary tech, CBRE report, tech jobs Alberta, Platform Calgary, TCG Machines, Calgary economy, tech talent, clean tech, innovation strategy, Calgary startups

The Story: A Sector Transformed

Calgary, Alberta – August 21, 2026 — The numbers tell a compelling story of transformation. Between 2022 and 2025, Calgary's tech sector grew by 56 per cent, adding 28,900 jobs according to the CBRE Group's latest analysis. This performance outpaces every other metropolitan area in North America, marking the third straight year Calgary has claimed the top spot.

Jen Lussier, CEO of Platform Calgary, attributes much of this success to the city's ability to build on its existing strengths. "In Alberta and in Calgary, specifically, there's a lot of tech that's based on kind of our natural resources and traditional industries," Lussier explained. "Energy, of course, clean tech, agriculture, manufacturing — it really is literally across the board."

Platform Calgary, located in the city's downtown core, has become a central hub for the tech community. The organization offers supports for entrepreneurs and creates connections for those seeking opportunities in the sector. "We like to say it takes a village to raise a startup," joked Lussier. "Platform works to connect and grow the broader tech community, but we also have direct programming that helps a founder build a product, learn how to find a customer, talk to a customer, learn how to raise dollars, and learn how to hire."

The success of Platform Calgary, Lussier noted, didn't materialize overnight. It's the result of deliberate planning and sustained investment. "The Calgary Economic Development innovation strategy has been put in place, and over the next three years… Platform is the critical referral engine at the middle of that," she shared. "There's nodes for each sector, and how tech is integrating into each sector… into aerospace, into energy, into sports, into logistics, etc., so that strategy is solid foundational policy."

Canadian Context: Diversification Beyond Energy

Calgary's tech boom represents a broader shift in Alberta's economic identity. For decades, the province's fortunes have been tied to the energy sector, with boom-and-bust cycles driven by global oil prices. The current growth in technology employment suggests a deliberate move toward diversification — one that aligns with federal priorities around clean energy and innovation.

The tech sector's integration with traditional industries is particularly notable. Rather than replacing the energy sector, technology is increasingly being layered onto it, with clean tech and efficiency innovations emerging from companies with deep roots in Alberta's resource economy. This hybrid approach reflects a pragmatic Canadian response to the global energy transition — one that seeks to maintain economic stability while moving toward lower-emission technologies.

Lussier emphasized the breadth of this integration. "There's nodes for each sector, and how tech is integrating into each sector… into aerospace, into energy, into sports, into logistics, etc.," she said, highlighting the cross-pollination occurring across Calgary's economy. This approach positions the city as a model for other Canadian regions seeking to balance traditional industries with innovation-driven growth.

The federal government's innovation agenda and provincial support for technology development have both played roles in fostering this environment. As Nathan Day of TCG Machines noted, "We're seeing so much support both from Calgary and the province, and on a federal level. It not only reinforces our belief in ourselves, but makes possible all the things we've been able to do."

Impact on Canadians: Jobs Beyond Coding

For ordinary Canadians, the growth in Calgary's tech sector represents more than just headlines — it translates into tangible employment opportunities across a range of professions. Contrary to popular perception, tech employment isn't limited to programmers and coders. Many companies in the sector need people to work in sales, human resources, logistics, and other support functions.

TCG Machines, a Calgary-based company that has found its niche in the trading card industry, exemplifies this broader employment picture. Nathan Day, the company's sales and marketing head, described remarkable growth: "For the past six consecutive years, we have doubled in size. From modest beginnings of just our founder for five years, while he invented our product, to this year — I believe we began with 15 employees, we're now up to 40."

The company recently moved from a co-op workspace into a more than 15,000 square-foot facility and celebrated a milestone of their machines sorting through an impressive billion cards. "I mean, the proof is in the pudding, you know what I mean? We're now in 24 countries, we have just over 500 units out in the field, this is making a real impact for people," Day noted. "So as cool as it is to be able to do this, I think the best part about it is that we're actually making valuable change in business owners' lives and helping this community we're all big fans of."

For Calgary residents, this growth translates into a more resilient local economy, less vulnerable to the downturns that have historically accompanied oil price fluctuations. It also means new career pathways for workers who may not have considered technology roles previously, as companies across the sector hire for diverse positions.

Reactions and Analysis: Building on Success

The success of TCG Machines, Day explained, isn't simply a matter of luck — it's the result of sustained effort and a willingness to seize opportunities. "The more fun a job is the harder you have to work at it. Because more people are interested in it for its intrinsic worth to them, not necessarily for the financial reward," he explained. "It kind of fell on us to take advantage of every opportunity we possibly can, because at the end of the day the mission for us is to provide value for people who are running trading card businesses."

Day expressed confidence that Calgary will continue to attract talent, despite challenges in the education sector. "Calgary has done an excellent job of leveraging what we already had, which was forward thinking and ambitious people," Day stated.

However, the CBRE report identifies a potential vulnerability: education. Of the nearly 29,000 tech jobs created, only 3,660 graduates with tech-related degrees are coming out of local post-secondary institutions. This gap between industry demand and local educational output raises questions about the sustainability of the sector's growth and whether Calgary can continue to fill positions without relying heavily on talent from elsewhere.

Lussier pointed to the foundational policy work that has supported the sector's development. "The Calgary Economic Development innovation strategy has been put in place, and over the next three years… Platform is the critical referral engine at the middle of that," she said, emphasizing the deliberate approach that has characterized the city's tech push.

What Happens Next

Looking ahead, Calgary's tech sector faces both opportunities and challenges. The education gap identified in the CBRE report will require attention, whether through expanded post-secondary programs, increased co-op and apprenticeship opportunities, or strategies to attract talent from other Canadian cities and international destinations.

The continued integration of technology with traditional industries — energy, agriculture, manufacturing — suggests that Calgary's tech growth may have staying power. Unlike purely digital startups that can relocate easily, tech companies embedded in physical industries have stronger ties to the local economy and community.

For Canadians watching from other regions, Calgary's experience offers lessons in economic diversification. The city has demonstrated that it's possible to build a thriving technology sector while maintaining and even enhancing traditional industries. The path forward will require continued collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions — but the foundation laid over the past three years provides reason for optimism.

As Platform Calgary's Lussier noted, the strategy is "solid foundational policy." With continued investment in education, infrastructure, and community building, Calgary's tech sector appears well-positioned to maintain its momentum. The city that was once synonymous with oil and gas is writing a new chapter — one that embraces innovation while honouring its industrial heritage.

By Alex Thompson, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.