Hi all

we are due to emigrate and arrive in Toronto early October. Can anyone shed any light on the the state of the graphic design industry in Toronto at the moment. I've heard there is quite a lot of freelance work available but not many permanent vacancies. I've looked on the job sites over the last few months and it doesn't seem too bad, any insight would be greatly appeciated

Many thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Look for posts by YYZ Lover, she came looking for that sort of work (at least istr it was that kind of work) and went home when the money ran out.

I suspect you've heard right. We've used a couple of design agencies for various projects in the last few months, some big, some small. Reading between the lines in agency/client meetings (where, of course, we talk to the suits rather than the designers themselves, so this is third-hand hearsay and supposition) I would guess that about half the actual design work is outsourced to freelances.

I work as a Graphic Designer in the west end of the city. Most of the real design houses are downtown, but anyways thats besides the point. I do freelance work on the side and in recent months that has seemed to dry up (not the case in every circumstance). I have a lot of friends in the design industry as well working downtown, and I know a few who have been laid off in recent months and others who have found jobs since than. It seems to be a trend that design houses will hire people on contract and such as to not pay benefits or anything of that matter. There is the work out there still though if your a good designer and will always be especially if your at the top of your game. Here are some Canadian design based job sites that you can highlight Toronto in:

http://www.printjobs.ca/
http://www.mediajobsearchcanada.com/...ortunities.asp
http://www.eluta.ca/
http://www.creativeniche.ca/candidate_jobs.cfm
http://www.creativegroup.com/

And even kijiji and craigslists has people looking for freelance stuff basically, I know a few people who have found legit work from those 2 sources but some posting seem pretty sketchy and not sure if some people may rip you off through these links.

Anyhow with less jobs available competition is definately becoming greater and it is that little bit harder to find a full time design job. I have a friend who is an amazing designer and had his contract cut short at an agency, luckily he got referred through someone else and picked up another int design job right away.

Any questions feel free to shoot.

Thanks a lot for all the advice, much appreiciated. Shawn, I've sent you a PM,

thanks, Dave.