Product design hiring in Canada eases 31% from its October peak
There are 192 open Product Designer roles at 142 companies this week, but the weekly pace has slowed from its early October high and new postings are down 10% over the last 30 days.
The middle posted range across all levels. 38% of open roles post their pay.
73 roles with yearly payof open roles are at employers with recent Canadian LMIA approvals.
Canada LMIA approvals, matched by employeris what the typical role asks for. 10% ask for 10 years or more.
69% of open roles state yearsThis week's read
The weekly count of new Product Designer postings peaked on 5 October at 32 roles. By the week of 26 October it had fallen to 22, a drop of 31% from that peak. Over the last 30 days as a whole, new postings are down 10% compared to the 30 days before, 95 versus 105.
This is not a junior market. Senior titles make up 38% of open roles, more than mid level at 33%, and another 12% are principal. The median posting asks for at least 5 years of experience, though only 10% ask for 10 years or more. Of the roles that state a years requirement, that covers 69% of all open postings.
Pay is only listed on 38% of postings, 73 roles out of 192, so most listings leave you guessing. Where it is shown, the typical range across all levels is C$120k to C$140k. Senior and lead roles, 35 of the paid postings, typically run C$125k to C$160k. Mid level roles, 26 postings, typically run C$88k to C$113k.
Figma is named in half of postings, by far the most asked for tool. AI and machine learning comes up in 20% of postings, and Adobe tools like Photoshop and Creative Cloud each appear in 16%. SaaS is the most common industry mentioned, in 15% of postings, ahead of gaming at 8%.
The job is spread thin across employers. The top 8 companies, including Clio with 6 open roles and Alstom and Crear Talent with 5 each, together hold only 17% of all open positions. Remote roles make up 22% of postings. Among the 142 companies hiring, 12% of open roles sit at employers with recent LMIA approvals on Canada's sponsor list.
What this means for you
Three things you can act on this week
- Expect to ask about pay
Only 38% of postings list a salary. Where they do, the typical range is C$120k to C$140k, with senior roles running C$125k to C$160k and mid level roles C$88k to C$113k. Ask early if it is missing.
- Senior experience is favoured
Senior titles account for 38% of open roles and the median posting asks for at least 5 years. Only 10% ask for 10 or more years, so the bar is high but not extreme.
- Check visa sponsorship before applying
Just 12% of open roles sit at employers with recent LMIA approvals. If sponsorship matters to you, check whether the company appears on Canada's LMIA approvals list before applying.
Pay
What Design roles in Canada pay, by level
The middle (median) of the pay ranges employers post. Read each bar from the typical low end to the typical high end of a posting. 38% of open roles post their pay.
See the numbers
| Level | Roles with pay | Typical low | Typical high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior / Lead | 35 | C$125k | C$160k |
| Mid level | 26 | C$88k | C$113k |
Yearly CAD ranges only (hourly pay and other currencies are left out). Level is read from the job title.
Momentum
New Design roles each week
Last 30 days: 95 new roles, against 105 the 30 days before (-10%). Each week counts the same companies, and a role counts as new only in the week it was posted, so a careers site we start reading never shows up as growth.
See the numbers
| Week starting | New roles |
|---|---|
| 7 Sep | 19 |
| 14 Sep | 28 |
| 21 Sep | 23 |
| 28 Sep | 28 |
| 5 Oct | 32 |
| 12 Oct | 20 |
| 19 Oct | 22 |
| 26 Oct | 22 |
Who is hiring
The companies with the most open Design roles
142 companies are hiring. The top eight hold 17% of the open roles.
| Company | Open roles | Change in new roles | LMIA approvals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clio | 6 | ||
| Alstom | 5 | ||
| Crear Talent | 5 | ||
| Kabam | 4 | ||
| 2K | 3 | ||
| Armstrong Fluid Technology | 3 | ||
| Hasbro | 3 | ||
| Igg | 3 |
Change compares new roles in the last 30 days with the 30 days before, shown where a company posted 25 or more in the earlier 30 days. Staffing agencies are left out. A company name links to its Ashney company page where there is one.
What they ask for
The technology Design roles ask for most
Ask Rate is the share of roles that name a skill, from 177 postings read in full. Ways of working (methods such as Agile, tools such as Jira) are listed apart; office tools and soft skills are left out.
Ways of working
Industries named most: SaaS 15%, Gaming 8%, E-commerce 5%. Certifications named: Engineer in Training (EIT) 1%, Professional Scrum Master 1%, ServiceNow Certified System Administrator 1%. 22% of open roles say they are remote.
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