Manitoba 2010 Labour Force Trends

In 2010, Manitoba’s labour market fared well for yet another year, gaining 11,500 jobs or 1.9% in annual growth and establishing a new record annual level of 619,800 employed.  In comparison to other Canadian jurisdictions, Manitoba’s employment growth was third highest.

In 2010, Manitoba’s full time employed represented 80.3% of total employed and included 498,000 jobs.  Similar to the national level, Manitoba gained 1.2% in annual full time job growth.

With the labour force expanding by 13,100, the unemployment rate increased marginally from 5.2% in 2009 to 5.4% in 2010.  Manitoba’s unemployment rate at 5.4% was second lowest in the nation for the second year in a row, trailing Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate of 5.2%.

Manitoba’s labour force participation and employment rates increased in 2010 to 69.6% and 65.9% respectively.  Manitoba’s participation and employment rates were third highest in Canada, trailing Saskatchewan and Alberta.

According to the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics, Manitoba’s private sector employed 453,300 workers in 2010; representing 73.1% of the province’s employed labour force.  Between 2009 and 2010, Manitoba’s private sector increased by 6,000 workers, representing an annual growth rate of 1.3%.

In 2010, average weekly earnings were $786.35 in Manitoba and the Canadian average was $853.19.  In recent years, Manitoba’s annual increases in average weekly earnings have outpaced national increases.  Since 2006, Manitoba’s average weekly earnings have increased by $97.57 or 14.2%.  Over the same period, Canada’s average weekly earnings have increased by $97.66 or 12.9%.

Since the start of the global economic downturn in October 2008, Manitoba has fared well.  When 2008 to 2010 are considered in aggregate, Manitoba had the second strongest labour market in Canada, a close second behind Saskatchewan.  On many indicators, Manitoba fared significantly stronger than the Canadian average: labour force growth of 4.5% (MB) versus 3.6% (CAN), total employment growth of 3.5% (MB) versus 1.4% (CAN), full time employment growth of 3.2% (MB) versus 0.0% (CAN), private sector employment growth of 1.3% (MB) versus 0.0% (CAN) and an unemployment rate of 4.9% (MB) versus 7.5% (CAN).

Based on the Manitoba Finance survey of economic forecasters, Manitoba’s employment is expected to grow 1.1% in 2011 and 1.3% in 2012.  This is generally in line with the national outlook.  Manitoba’s unemployment rate is forecast to decline to 5.2% in 2011 and 5.1% in 2012.  Manitoba’s population growth is expected to remain strong over the outlook period.

Manitoba Labour Force Statistics (population 15+)
	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Labour Force (000s)	615.2	626.4	635.0	641.8	654.9
Employment (000s)	588.5	598.6	608.5	608.3	619.8
Participation Rate (%)	68.5	69.0	69.3	69.1	69.6
Unemployment Rate (%)	4.3	4.4	4.2	5.2	5.4
Average Weekly Earnings ($)	688.78	729.15	749.59	771.29	786.35
Source: Statistics Canada and Manitoba Bureau of Statistics