Manitoba finished the year with an unemployment rate of 4.2 per cent, which is below the national average and the lowest among other provinces in Canada, federal labour force data showed. The chief executive officer of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Chuck Davidson, emphasized that lower unemployment rates present difficulties for employers as it results in a smaller pool of candidates for recruitment. The construction sector in Manitoba, which forms a significant part of the province’s total labour force, already faces a lack of talented workers, an issue which Darryl Harrison of the Winnipeg Construction Association acknowledged. Despite this, Manitoba’s 2023 construction industry saw employment levels reach an unprecedented high since 2013, with over 56,000 workers. The demand for workers in this sector is expected to grow in 2024 due to government incentives for the construction of multi-family housing.

Meanwhile, the provincial government’s December fiscal update reveals that Manitoba’s unemployment rate could likely increase up to 5.7 per cent by the second half of 2024. December’s labour report showed signs of economic slowdown, signified by the loss of around 3,000 full-time jobs which was counterbalanced by gains in part-time positions, and a decrease in the number of health care workers. Nevertheless, Manitoba’s health care sector had positive growth in 2023, adding around 6,000 workers by the end of the year. Jamie Moses, the Economic Development Minister, explained that the province aims to increase employment levels in the health sector by engaging with industry partners for worker recruitment and training.