Innovative workers in relation to the city: The case of a natural resource-based centre (Calgary)

A large recent literature argues that cities' capacity to attract and retain creative talent crucially supports innovation and economic health. Instead of understanding 'creative' contributions statistically through education, job classification, income, and economic growth, this paper qualitatively explores workers' attitudes about the city in which they pursue a career. This paper identifies and reports on factors of attraction and retention of individuals that have been identified as 'innovative workers' by firms in Calgary, a natural resource-based centre in Canada studied in the years 2006-2008. The data were drawn from interviewees' responses to questions about attitudes toward the city as a place to work and about possible moves to alternative locations, in the context of a study of the social dynamics of innovation from the city perspective. Analysis qualitatively extends seven established themes of the socio and economic development. We find that economic opportunities, several environmental factors, personal networks, and professional networks were most attractive, while socio-cultural diversity was less emphasized.

► In this paper, we examine factors that attract and retain innovative workers. ► An 'embeddedness' indicator is introduced to assess attraction and retention factors. ► We draw on qualitative data (48 interviews) of innovative workers from firms and organizations. ► A balance of personal factors and perceptions determine individual attraction/retention choices. ► Decisions to remain in the census metropolitan area are highly context dependent.