I just read the article and was going to respond as per your first sentence but you beat me to it.

Yes, this is not unique to the tech sector,  many  employers in Vancouver are complaining they are having difficulties attracting and retaining skills.

Richmond was  once a popular home for workers employed from the airport, and a lower cost alternative to Vancouver.  Last year the Chamber of Commerce stated;

"Not only are (Richmond businesses)  losing employees, it's difficult for them to recruit talent," chair Rob Akimow told On The Coast guest host Gloria Macarenko."

All because the average price of a house is 1.7 million, the rental vacancy rate is well under one percent, and much of the housing that is being built (condos) are sold and empty.

This is what happens when you commodify your housing.