5 ms·

Is the question that Canadian companies genuinely can't pay more, or just that they won't, for whatever reason?

kspaans 11y ago
Or maybe that Canadians are willing to work for less? (I remember reading an article that auto manufacturers charge more for the same cars in Canada simply because Canadians will pay more.)
- zeemonkee3 11y ago
  Good point. Perhaps Americans are better negotiators, and haggling over price/salary "isn't done" in Canada (I know nothing about Canadian culture, but fascinated about the possible effects of culture on an economy).
  - mywittyname 11y ago
    This isn't done in America very much either. We have a white list of things that are appropriate to haggle price on (cars, houses, things on craigslist), but everything else is basically, "wait for sales."
- justinhj 11y ago
  Local salaries are driven by supply and demand. Tech workers in Vancouver are paid very well compared to other workers in the city. If all tech workers suddenly demanded 20% raises I guess it would happen, but at lowered profit margin for the employers who may end up relocating.
josephdviviano 11y ago
Well, in the case of Toronto, I make a better salary relative to the cost of living (all things considered -- rent, health care, insurance) than I could make in SF or NY at the moment. Taxes in Cali aren't that different from Ontario, but the cost of living is nuts (and for the most part astonishingly suburban). Even if I could get slightly more money, I'd lose a lot of quality of life because my entire network is here. Personally, the idea of dropping my entire life for a pay cheque would necessitate a substantial increase in pay. I think companies pay what the market will bear, and enough people feel the same way I do.
sospep 11y ago
Why would they pay more? As long as they can fill the seats they have open, paying "Canadian" rates, why not? Sure, they are aware that some talent is leaving for greener pastures southward, but there is no "shortage" of talent available in the Vancouver market. When/if enough of the developer supply has exited, that filling those seats becomes difficult, salaries will increase. I wouldn't hold my breath.
- lewisl9029 11y ago
  This definitely looks like a tragedy of the commons type situation. Companies act in self-interest by paying as low as they possibly can, with no regards for the damage being done to the Canadian talent pool. It honestly feels rather hopeless for the Canadian tech industry at this point.

Or maybe that Canadians are willing to work for less? (I remember reading an article that auto manufacturers charge more for the same cars in Canada simply because Canadians will pay more.)

zeemonkee3 11y ago
Good point. Perhaps Americans are better negotiators, and haggling over price/salary "isn't done" in Canada (I know nothing about Canadian culture, but fascinated about the possible effects of culture on an economy).
- mywittyname 11y ago
  This isn't done in America very much either. We have a white list of things that are appropriate to haggle price on (cars, houses, things on craigslist), but everything else is basically, "wait for sales."
justinhj 11y ago
Local salaries are driven by supply and demand. Tech workers in Vancouver are paid very well compared to other workers in the city. If all tech workers suddenly demanded 20% raises I guess it would happen, but at lowered profit margin for the employers who may end up relocating.

josephdviviano 11y ago

Well, in the case of Toronto, I make a better salary relative to the cost of living (all things considered -- rent, health care, insurance) than I could make in SF or NY at the moment. Taxes in Cali aren't that different from Ontario, but the cost of living is nuts (and for the most part astonishingly suburban). Even if I could get slightly more money, I'd lose a lot of quality of life because my entire network is here. Personally, the idea of dropping my entire life for a pay cheque would necessitate a substantial increase in pay. I think companies pay what the market will bear, and enough people feel the same way I do.

sospep 11y ago

Why would they pay more? As long as they can fill the seats they have open, paying "Canadian" rates, why not? Sure, they are aware that some talent is leaving for greener pastures southward, but there is no "shortage" of talent available in the Vancouver market. When/if enough of the developer supply has exited, that filling those seats becomes difficult, salaries will increase. I wouldn't hold my breath.

lewisl9029 11y ago
This definitely looks like a tragedy of the commons type situation. Companies act in self-interest by paying as low as they possibly can, with no regards for the damage being done to the Canadian talent pool. It honestly feels rather hopeless for the Canadian tech industry at this point.