{"id":72495,"date":"2026-04-22T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T12:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2026\/04\/22\/posthaste-perks-not-pay-needed-to-attract-in-demand-tech-workers\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T12:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T12:00:10","slug":"posthaste-perks-not-pay-needed-to-attract-in-demand-tech-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2026\/04\/22\/posthaste-perks-not-pay-needed-to-attract-in-demand-tech-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Posthaste: Perks, not pay, needed to attract in-demand tech workers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> \n<br \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"No &#039;economic spark&#039; on horizon for job market\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/J9-6rVxmKdo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-license-id=\"\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/fp-posthaste-LOGO-01132023.jpg\" title=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p> Canadian businesses are finding it difficult to attract top talent in the technology space as workers push for more flexibility and perks. <\/p>\n<p> More than 55 per cent of businesses say attracting top tech talent is a major priority this year, while 70 per cent say it\u2019s harder than ever before to do so, according to a recent survey by International Workplace Group (IWG). <\/p>\n<p> Tech fluency, especially related to artificial intelligence, has become one of the most attractive skills in the job market, with 20 per cent of businesses viewing such skills as more important than a university degree. <\/p>\n<p> It\u2019s not just Canadian business having trouble, with 72 per cent of businesses worldwide reporting difficulty in filling roles in the tech space, according to a February survey of more than 39,000 employers across 41 countries by ManpowerGroup Global Inc. <\/p>\n<p> The talent shortage has climbed from 40 per cent in 2016, though it is down slightly from the previous two years, the report said. <\/p>\n<p> Overall, AI skills have overtaken traditional tech skills as the most in demand. <\/p>\n<p> As tech employees become increasingly important for many Canadian companies, workers have gained leverage in the job market and have the power to attract perks that may have been unavailable even a decade ago. <\/p>\n<p> Businesses have realized that total compensation is no longer the only factor when it comes to attracting in-demand tech workers, as 34 per cent said they use a hybrid working arrangement and 28 per cent said they use stock option plans. <\/p>\n<p> Work-life balance and flexibility for generation Z Canadians rank higher than compensation when it comes to company culture. <\/p>\n<p> \u201cThe message from leaders \u2014 and particularly from younger generations \u2014 is clear: companies that do not embed hybrid working into their culture risk losing out in the race for tech talent and accessing the skills they need to remain competitive,\u201d IWG chief executive Mark Dixon said in a news release. <\/p>\n<p> But as more Canadian workers prioritize flexible working conditions, more companies are paring such arrangements down. <\/p>\n<p> Workers at Amazon.com Inc., several Canadian banks and provincial workers in Ontario and Alberta have all been forced to scale back remote work since it became the trend during COVID-19. <\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-license-id=\"\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Real-estate-series-6-1-1.jpg\" title=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p> Spring is traditionally the busiest time for real estate and this year, the stakes couldn\u2019t be higher. Follow our Spring Real Estate Survival Guide series as we unpack some of the most pressing questions buyers and sellers are grappling with, plus expert advice on how to navigate the reality of a slower market. <\/p>\n<p>                        Read the series here <\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p> <em><strong>\u00a0Sign up here to get Posthaste delivered straight to your inbox.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p> <strong><br \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1758646\" height=\"114\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/subhead_leading.png\" width=\"838\" \/><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-license-id=\"\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qw_Rogers_Lags_Telecom_Pack_During_Price_War_Fears.jpg\" title=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p> Rogers Communications Inc.<\/p>\n<p>                         was once the top performer in Canada\u2019s telecom sector, but a wireless price war has it falling behind its fiercest competitors. <\/p>\n<p> Telecom companies aim to secure new customers in a race that ultimately lowers prices and squeezes company profits. <\/p>\n<p> With Rogers reporting earnings today, analysts expect growth of just two per cent, which is likely to hurt its stock. <\/p>\n<p> Read more here. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-license-id=\"\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/subhead-1.jpg\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Freedom Mobile CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau speaks at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in a forum on increasing competition in the Canadian telecom sector<\/li>\n<li><strong>Today\u2019s Data:<\/strong> New housing price index for March<\/li>\n<li><strong>Earnings:<\/strong> Tesla Inc., IBM Corp., AT&amp;T Inc., The Boeing Company, Kinder Morgan Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Metro Inc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-license-id=\"\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/banner.jpg\" title=\"\" \/><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-license-id=\"\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/chart-0422-ph.jpg\" title=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p> \u00a0 <\/p>\n<figure class=\"embedded-image\"><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p> <strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3080181\" height=\"114\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/subhead_reads.jpeg\" width=\"838\" \/><\/strong> <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>From where the deals are to where prices dropped most, 5 key things to know about the spring real estate market<\/li>\n<li>Toronto\u2019s condo market \u2018hits bottom\u2019 with some developers looking at selling units below cost<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t expect Carney\u2019s looming spring budget update to reflect the financial pain Canadians are feeling<\/li>\n<li>Canadian satellite startup NorthStar on track to hit US$300-million valuation after SPAC merger<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2059284\" height=\"114\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/subhead_personal_finance_2.png\" width=\"838\" \/> <\/p>\n<p> Canadians have become increasingly cautious with their spending this year, according to new data. Total domestic spending is flat, and nearly half of those in a recent survey say they intend to cut back on non-essential spending. <\/p>\n<p>                        Find out more<\/p>\n<p>                         about where Canadians are putting their hard-earned dollars. <\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p> <span><\/span><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-license-id=\"\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/FP-West-Energy-Insider-Logo.png\" title=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>                         Interested in energy? The subscriber-only FP West: Energy Insider newsletter brings you exclusive reporting and in-depth analysis on\u00a0 one of the country\u2019s most important sectors. <\/p>\n<p>                        Sign up here. <\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"x_elementToProof\"><span>Are you worried about having enough for retirement? Do you need to adjust your portfolio? Are you starting out or making a change and wondering how to build wealth? Are you trying to make ends meet? Drop us a line at\u00a0<\/span>wealth@postmedia.com<span><\/span><span>\u00a0with your contact info and the gist of your problem and we\u2019ll find some experts to help you out while writing a Family Finance story about it (we\u2019ll keep your name out of it, of course).<\/span><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>McLister on mortgages<\/h2>\n<p> Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister\u2019s <\/p>\n<p>                        Financial Post column <\/p>\n<p>                        can help navigate the complex sector, from the latest trends to financing opportunities you won\u2019t want to miss. Plus check his <\/p>\n<p>                        mortgage rate page<\/p>\n<p>                         for Canada\u2019s lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily. <\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Financial Post on YouTube<\/h2>\n<p> Visit the Financial Post\u2019s <\/p>\n<p>                        YouTube channel<\/p>\n<p>                         for interviews with Canada\u2019s leading experts in business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more. <\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p> <em>Today\u2019s Posthaste was written by Ben Cousins\u00a0with additional reporting from Financial Post staff, The Canadian Press and Bloomberg.<\/em> <\/p>\n<p> Have a story idea, pitch, embargoed report, or a suggestion for this newsletter? Email us at\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>                        posthaste@postmedia.com<\/p>\n<p>                        . <\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p> <em><strong>Bookmark our website and support our journalism:<\/strong> Don\u2019t miss the business news you need to know \u2014 add\u00a0financialpost.com\u00a0to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here<\/em> <\/p>\n<p><\/img><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>Posthaste: Perks, not pay, needed to attract in-demand tech workers<\/a><br \/>\n<br \/>2026-04-22 12:00:10<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canadian businesses are finding it difficult to attract top talent in the technology space as workers push for more flexibility and perks. More than 55 per cent of businesses say&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":72496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-72495","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-economy"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72495"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72495\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/72496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}