Jobs & Money Detail
Job spotlight: Manitoba
Huge increases in the number of skilled immigrants settling in Manitoba in recent years has turned the Prairie province’s economy into one of the most vibrant in Canada
Currently boasting the second-lowest unemployment rate in the country at 4.7 per cent – the national average is 6.4 per cent – the introduction of the Provincial Nominee Programme in 1998 transformed Manitoba's workforce by allowing its government to handpick skilled individuals from around the world who it believed could provide significant industrial and economic benefits to the province.
In 2005 Manitoba's real Gross Domestic Product grew by 2.9 per cent, equal to that of Canada as a whole, and its highest increase for five years. The province's growth was broadly based on strength in utilities, wholesale and retail trade, and transportation. More encouraging growth is expected to come. The Manitoba Finance Survey forecasts the province's economy to grow by 2.9 per cent again this year, slightly below the national prediction of 3 per cent for Canada, while further growth of 2.4 per cent is also expected in the province for 2007. According to a report released by the provincial government in January this year there are a number of occupations which are currently considered to be 'in demand' and expected to be so for the next two years.
These occupations vary over a number of different industries and sectors including construction, business services, manufacturing, finance and insurance, and healthcare. Among the over 50 occupations specified by the Manitoba government as being in 'high demand' are construction managers, said to be needed in the provincial capital Winnipeg and northern reaches of the province, accountants, required throughout Manitoba, and software developers, needed in Winnipeg. What you can expect to earn when working in Manitoba has also increased over the past few years.
In 2004 weekly salary rates in the province increased by 4 per cent – the highest in the country – and although they didn't rise by quite so much last year, at 3.5 per cent salary rates were still compared favourably to national growth – 3.1 per cent. Manitoban workers earn on average the fifth-highest salaries of employees from all Canada's 13 provinces and territories. As an example of wage rates, a delivery driver earns an average of CDN$29,000 a year, while welders take home an average of CDN$36,500. Minimum wage rates have also increased in the province. In April the minimum rate went up to CDN7.60 an hour, while in 2007 it will increase once again to CDN$8. Only British Columbia, Ontario, Northwest Territories and Nunavut offer higher minimum wages.
Read other Manitoba related articles:
Keeping warm in Winnipeg
Life in rural Manitoba
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