Top 5 Gaming Jobs in Canada in 2021 and Beyond
Canada’s game development industry is the third-largest worldwide. As one of the global leaders in tech and innovation, its video gaming industry growth is in large part due to its incredible talent pool. And to help facilitate the growing need for digital talent, the Canadian government has designed several immigration and work programs to create pathways for foreign workers and help them apply forgaming jobs in Canada.
But what are the top-most in-demand gaming jobs currently making waves in Canada at the moment?
5 Gaming Jobs to Pursue in Canada
1.Game Developer
If you’ve got incredible coding skills and a passion for game development and Easter eggs, provinces like British Columbia and Ontario should be on your list of destinations to live and work in Canada. Game devs are in high demand in Canada and can look forward to earning an average yearly salary of around $61,688. There are currently thousands of game developer jobs available in Canada. And to top it off, many of these jobs are remote positions, which means that you can work from the comfort of your own home!
2.Game Designer
For those geared more towards designing concepts, worlds, and making the overall user experience legendary, this job may be what you’re looking for. Fancy yourself working for the likes of Rockstar (Toronto) or EA Canada? Well, if you do, then you can not only look forward to a great annual salary of around $53,541, but you can also get in on the action with perks like game credits, console reimbursements, gym reimbursement, and various health savings and insurance.
3.Game Programmer
Computer programmers bring their fellow designers’ and developers’ vision to life by developing software to create video games, setting up the game engine, and ensuring that everything runs without any glitches. Programmers can stand to earn about $58,622 on average per year, and who knows, you could be programming for the likes of big companies such as Ubisoft or Relic Entertainment!
4.Game Writer
Game writers are responsible for creating the incredible plot as well as characters, their backstories, and dialogue. If you like the idea of working on the nextLast of Us,then look no further. Gaming companies like Bioware or Capcom, located in British Columbia or Alberta, may be the place for you. As a Canadian game writer, you could earn an average annual salary of $56,805.
5.Game Development Tester
Now, believe it or not, but yes, this is an actual profession in Canada, but there’s a lot more to it than chilling on your couch and playing your favorite game all day. Well, it’s not completely inaccurate, but there’s a lot more to it. You will be responsible for testing the alpha and beta and are an integral part of the game development process. Essentially, you’ll be the quality assurance tester to check for any glitches or bugs, and you can earn around $30,225 a year doing just that. Not a bad gig to have, right?
So, are you keen to apply for a job at The Coalition? Take a look at the steps you need to take toget a Canadian work permitand start living the dream!
Applying for a Canadian Work Visa
Step 1: Do you qualify?
Before you apply, you’ll need to check if you qualify for a work visa or permanent residency (PR) program. Popular immigration programs among gamers are those like:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program, under the Express Entry system, and
- Various Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams like:
- The BC Tech Pilot; and
- The Ontario Tech Pilot
Whether you qualify for PR and are waiting for your status to be approved or, if you don’t qualify for permanent residency, you will likely need a work permit. Below are the requirements to qualify for a work permit:
- proof you will leave Canada when your work permit expires;
- have enough money to support yourself and your family members and to return home;
- have a clear criminal record and a police clearance certificate;
- not be a danger to Canada’s security;
- be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed.
Step 2: What’s your type?
There are two types of Canadian work permits to choose from:
- Theopen work permitallows you to work for any employer anywhere in Canada; or
- Theemployer-specific work permitallows you to work for a specific employer for a specific period of time.
If you like to throw caution to the wind and want to wing it, finding a job in Canada through programs such as the Working Holiday Visa can get you an open work permit.
If, however, youapply for a job in Canadaand are successful, you’ll need an employer-specific work permit. You can learn more here about the job application process.
Step 3: Submit your application.
Once you have all your application forms completed and accompanying documents in hand, you can start with the application process. Processing times can take anywhere from 2 to 27 weeks, depending on the program you choose and where you’re applying from.
Ready to Level Up?
Applying for a new job in Canada can be quite daunting, especially if you’ve never experienced the culture or way of life. Luckily, Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world and offers plenty of opportunities to those looking to boost their careers or find new gaming jobs in Canada. For more information on how to get a Canadian work permit and the application process,go to CanadianVisa.org.
