Finding talent continues to be a challenge for many Manitoba employers.
As of September 2025, Manitoba’s job vacancy rate sits at approximately 2.7 percent, a change of minus 0.3 percentage points from last year. Our member businesses, representing every size and sector, regularly inform us that they are having difficulty finding enough employees to fill available positions.
Labour market data shows that while the overall Canadian labour market has stabilized since the 2022 peak in excess demand for workers, excess vacancies remain elevated for some high-skill occupations like healthcare, skilled trades and education. For many Manitoba employers, this means that despite signs of stabilization, finding workers with the right skills continues to be a challenge.
These shortages carry measurable economic costs. In 2024, the mismatch between Canada’s skilled worker supply and labour demand cost the economy an estimated $2.6 billion, reducing overall productivity growth by 0.1 percentage points. At the same time, rapid technological change is reshaping jobs and industries, further contributing to skill mismatches.
Looking ahead, the scale of workforce transition is significant. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report, if the global workforce were made up of 100 people, 59 would require some form of training or reskilling by 2030. Addressing this challenge will require expanded and better-aligned training, stronger pathways from education to employment, and targeted recruitment of new Canadians to fill critical gaps.
The Chamber recognizes that a strong, skilled, and productive workforce is central to Winnipeg’s long-term economic prosperity.
Our vision is for Winnipeg to be a city that attracts investment through a robust, flexible, and highly trained workforce – one where people want to live, grow, and build their careers and businesses.
Our new Workforce Development Policy Position, created in partnership with our members, outlines practical steps to help close workforce gaps and better support employers, including:
- Creating an attractive and affordable city by investing in downtown and prioritizing efficient, reliable travel – whether by driving, biking, busing, or walking.
- Attracting talent by calling on the Province of Manitoba to advocate for nationwide automatic recognition of professional certifications, reviewing economic competitiveness through taxation, and investing in early childhood education.
- Building Manitoba’s workforce through transitional employment pathways and reskilling opportunities, including expanding the Paid Work Experience Tax Credit beyond co-op programs.
- Creating an environment for Canadian workers to thrive by restoring the Canada–Manitoba Job Grant to 2023–24 levels and supporting regional design in immigration policy.
And more. Read our new Workforce Development Policy Position to learn how we are advocating for workforce solutions that work.
For more information on The Chamber’s policy and advocacy efforts in support of our members, please contact Gwen Black, our Policy & Government Relations Manager, at [email protected]
