Which Canadian cities offer the most flexible work?

Canadian employers are offering flexible work options at rates up to 10 times lower than worker demand, highlighting a growing challenge for HR professionals amid return-to-office (RTO) mandates.

In an analysis of 744,000 active job postings and 153,151 survey responses from Canadian job seekers between October and December 2025, JobLeads found that 60.5 per cent of workers want hybrid work, while only 6.4 per cent of jobs offer it.

The report also shows that 28 per cent of workers desire remote work, compared to just 2.7 per cent of postings that provide fully remote arrangements.

Companies that do provide flexible options “report this as their #1 recruiting advantage,” the report says, adding that “the gap is creating interprovincial talent migration from rigid to flexible markets."

Limited availability of flexible roles

Overall, only 9.1 per cent of Canadian job postings offer any form of flexible work – remote or hybrid – while 90.9 per cent still require full‑time on‑site presence, according to JobLeads. The report states that “this rigidity spans industries, regions, and salary bands (but with telling exceptions).”

JobLeads says the findings indicate a misalignment that is “reshaping talent competition across Canada.” The report notes that employers in Montreal are offering 5x more remote positions than Calgary, while tech sector roles offer 8x more flexibility than traditional industries.

It adds: “The companies closing this gap are winning the talent war; those ignoring it are losing workers to more flexible competitors.”

Best, worst cities for workplace flexibility

According to the JobLeads report, the top 10 cities for flex work (remote + hybrid share) are:

1. Montreal – 34.3% flex (6.5% remote, 27.8% hybrid)
2. Quebec City – 30.3% flex (3.8% remote, 26.5% hybrid)
3. Toronto – 22.9% flex (4.4% remote, 18.5% hybrid)
4. Southwestern Ontario – 22.0% flex (3.5% remote, 18.5% hybrid)
5. Dorval, Que. – 21.3% flex (1.1% remote, 20.2% hybrid)
6. Vancouver – 19.5% flex (5.1% remote, 14.4% hybrid)
7. Markham, Ont. – 18.8% flex (2.1% remote, 16.7% hybrid)
8. Saint‑Laurent‑de‑l'Île‑d'Orléans, Que. – 18.4% flex (1.6% remote, 16.8% hybrid)
9. Lévis, Que. – 18.2% flex (1.3% remote, 16.9% hybrid)
10. Brossard, Que. – 18.1% flex (1.5% remote, 16.6% hybrid)

Workers are calling for more flexibility, better office experiences, and stronger support for wellbeing, according to a previous report.

The top cities for in‑office work (by % Jobs On Site)

Highest shares of on‑site (in‑office) jobs:

1. Duncan, B.C. – 98.4% on site
2. Delta, B.C. – 97.9% on site
3. Chilliwack, B.C. – 97.9% on site
4. Owen Sound, Ont. – 97.8% on site
5. Penticton, B.C.  – 97.8% on site
6. Port Coquitlam, B.C. – 97.4% on site
7. Sherwood Park, Alta. – 97.3% on site
8. Vernon, B.C.  – 97.2% on site
9. Nanaimo, B.C. – 97.1% on site
10. West Vancouver – 97.0% on site
    10*. Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. – 97.0% on site (tied with West Vancouver)

“The future of work is no longer about where people sit. It is about how organisations perform,” says the International Workplace Group in a LinkedIn post.

“New research shows that leading companies are moving past office attendance debates and focusing on productivity, profitability, and well‑being. Hybrid and flexible models are no longer experiments. They are proven performance strategies.”

Numerous employers have called on workers to report back to the office.