These tech companies are the industry’s top employers in B.C.

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      The technology industry in British Columbia is booming—and employers are often on the hunt for new talent.

      More than 106,000 individuals work in the region’s tech sector: an all-time high. For the first time, tech workers in the province outnumber those in the mining, oil, gas, and forestry sectors combined, and the industry now employs five percent of the region’s total workforce.

      That number is growing rapidly. According to the latest statistics released by the government—those for 2016—employment in the sector increased by more than four percent over the course of a year. The number of businesses, too, saw a leap, with 331 new startups opening their doors. That brought the total of high-tech companies to over 10,200—a jump of 3.3 percent.

      One of the reasons that tech companies are attracting so many new employees is the generous salaries. The average worker in the sector earns $1,690 a week, compared to just $920 for the average B.C. employee. That number has been rising for the past six years, while wages in other sectors have flatlined.

      It’s not just the pay that attracts individuals to join a company, however. A weighty benefits package, lengthy vacation dates, and perks like onsite gyms and a health and wellness spending account also help motivate new employees' decisions.

      Mediacorp Canada—the organization behind the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project—took a number of factors into account to draw up its list of BC’s top 100 employers, including their physical workplace, work atmosphere, financial benefits and compensation, health and family-friendly benefits, vacation and personal days, employee engagement and performance, training and skills development, and community involvement.

      Of the full roster of companies, 11 were local tech organizations. Check out that list below, or view the full collection of companies here.

      Kate Wilson is the Technology Editor at the Georgia Straight. Follow her on Twitter @KateWilsonSays

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