Why Canada’s High Tech Grads Look South

OTTAWA (Feb. 9, 1999) -- Almost 80 per cent of computer science and engineering students at Canadian universities are willing, and in many cases eager, to take jobs in the United States, according to a survey by PERSONNEL SYSTEMS and NATIONAL Public Relations.

Students ranked higher salaries, better long-term earnings, greater career opportunities, lower taxes and a better economic climate as the major reasons for considering a move to the United States. But a company’s use of the latest technologies and the corporate work environment were the strongest factors influencing students when they researched potential employers.

Although talk about a brain drain is widespread, the survey found that Canadian high tech firms underestimate the willingness of Canadian students to take a job in the United States. The majority of employers believed that less than half of high tech students would consider a job south of the border. In fact, 78 per cent indicated they were willing to go to the United States. The students who said they were not interested in U.S. jobs cited the U.S. health care system, higher crime rates and distance from family, friends and home.

"U.S. corporations, search firms and consultants are actively recruiting Canadian talent – often with a more attractive package including higher salaries, signing bonuses and opportunities for advancement,'' said Janice Schellenberger, senior partner in Personnel Systems. "Once they’re interested in a potential employer, students are spending a fair amount of time on their own research. Grads expect to have five or six interviews. A common complaint among students who already had interviews was that recruiters did not provide enough information."

"High tech firms have to put as much effort into positioning themselves to interest and attract recruits as they do selling their products and services," said John Wildgust, a partner at National Public Relations in Ottawa. "The disconnects between high tech students and employers about what attracts potential recruits suggests that companies should be paying more attention to communications – their messages and the channels they use to deliver them."

Among the findings:

• Most engineering and computer science students want jobs in high tech and software companies, making recruiting even more difficult for government, service and retail industries to fill information technology positions.
• California, home of Silicon Valley, was the most popular job location in the United States. More than half of all students surveyed said they would relocate there.
• Almost half of the students said they would move to a job outside of North America. Western Europe was the top destination.
• In Canada, British Columbia and Ontario were the top provinces for relocation

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