More and more Canadian job-seekers are looking for work in smaller communities, according to data released Wednesday by employment search website Indeed.com.

Communities such as Alliston, Dundas, Innisfil and Timmins, Ont., and Dawson Creek B.C. were among the highest percentage gainers on the site’s searches during from April 2016 to March 2017.

The growth in smaller communities is being driven both by an influx of population as well as the higher cost of living within some of Canada’s biggest cities.

“With this list, we are measuring relative growth,” Indeed.com managing director Jodi Kasten told BNN.ca. “Many places on our list have seen their population increase over the last several years, and job opportunities have been generated.”

“The high cost of living [in big cities] doesn’t help the situation either, and that could be a factor driving job seekers to these smaller, growing communities.” 

 

Canada's most-searched job locations

LOCATION 2015-16 SEARCHES 2016-17 SEARCHES % CHANGE
 Alliston, Ont. 3,226  5,049  + 57 %
Dundas, Ont.  2,488  3,656   + 47 % 
Innisfil, Ont.  2,173  3,007   + 38 % 
 Dawson Creek, B.C. 2,393  3,224   + 35 % 
Timmins, Ont.  2,287  3,060   + 34 % 
Strathmore, Alta.  2,333  2,872   + 23 % 
 Okotoks, Alta. 2,940  3,543   + 21 % 
Whitehorse, Yukon  3,406  4,093   + 20 % 
Port Moody, B.C.  2,722  3,250   + 19 % 
 Ingersoll, Ont. 2,443  2,886   + 18 % 
 Midland, Ont. 2,294  2,685   + 17 % 
Owen Sound, Ont.  2,253  2,623   + 16 % 
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.  2,889  3,363   + 16 % 
 Georgetown, Ont. 4,090  4,736   + 16 % 
Oshawa, Ont.  13,230  15,223   + 15 % 

Smaller communities fared better on a percentage basis due to lower totals, with only Oshawa, Ont. posting more than 10,000 searches among the top 15. Although Kasten said proximity to bigger job markets is part of the appeal.

“Some of these places are in close proximity to larger cities, like Dundas, Ont. or Strathmore, Alta., and this gives job seekers access to the big city while enjoying the lower cost of living and the more affordable housing options that a smaller community has to offer.” 

Indeed made its calculations by pulling the number of job seekers per 1 million clicks on postings between the April 2015-March 2016 and April 2016-March 2017 time frames.