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Amazon to expand Vancouver presence with 100 new jobs and move to Telus Garden

VANCOUVER, BC, October 22, 2013 — Technology companies like Hootsuite, which is on a major job recruitment drive, may be getting some competition for skilled engineers from Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq:AMZN), which appears to be expanding its Vancouver operations.

Techvibes has confirmed that Amazon plans to take a large chunk of space in the new Telus Gardens.

Techvibes cites Matthew Carlson, an associate vice president with Colliers International, that Amazon has committed to take 91,000 square feet, and could take up to 156,000 square feet. The company would not take possession of its new space until 2015.

Meanwhile, the company is in hiring mode. According to Amazon’s Vancouver job board, it currently has roughly 100 job openings.

Amazon could not be reached for comment about its Vancouver expansion plans. Bill Tam, CEO for the BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA), said Amazon typically holds its cards close to its vest, but estimates the company already now employs about 200 people.

Most of the Amazon Vancouver job postings are for software engineers. It’s not the only tech company in Vancouver that is looking for software engineers. On October 8, Hootsuite started a major recruitment drive in an effort to hire 100 new employees.

Other major players have also been setting up shop in Vancouver. Microsoft now employs several hundred people in Vancouver, Tam said.

Facebook and Twitter also announced plans to set up shop in Vancouver, and Tam expects Vancouver will also to see other large players opening offices here to take advantage of a robust high tech ecosystem.

But that trend is starting to put pressure on the local high tech labour force, Tam said. He points out that T-NET currently has about 1,500 high tech job postings for B.C.

“The pace at which companies have been able to fill them has certainly been slower in progression and some of it is exacerbated by the entry of these larger players into the Vancouver market,” Tam said. “I think we are already at the beginning of a real serious talent crunch.”

To read the full article by Nelson Bennett online, click here.