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News Release - Manitoba

March 12, 2021

Manitoba Labour Market Continues to Rebound

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Labour Force Statistics Show 16,200 Jobs Added in February as Manitoba's Economy Carefully Reopens: Fielding

As the Manitoba government cautiously loosens public health restrictions, the provincial labour market continues to rebound with more than 16,000 jobs added in February and the second lowest provincial unemployment rate in Canada, Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced today.

“Our government is focused on carefully and gradually reopening Manitoba’s economy by loosening a variety of restrictions, while ensuring protocols are in place to protect Manitobans from the risks of COVID-19,” said Fielding. “We are happy to see strong returns in January and February and more Manitobans able to return to work, after three months of expected job losses at the end of 2020 due to necessary restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

From January to February 2021, Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey indicates Manitoba fared better than the national average in several key categories.

The survey estimates total jobs in Manitoba increased by 16,200, or 2.6 per cent compared to 1.4 per cent nationally, and Manitoba's labour force increased by 8,300, or 1.2 per cent compared to 0.1 per cent for Canada.

Full-time employment in the province was up 3,800 people or 0.7 per cent, slightly above 0.6 per cent nationally. Part-time employment saw an 11.6 per cent increase of 12,200 people, more than double the national rate of 5.4 per cent.

“More Manitobans are working full-time now than before the pandemic and this is a promising sign that Manitoba’s economy is starting to grow,” said Fielding. “We know local business owners are eager to safely reopen their doors, employees want to return to work and Manitobans hope to resume the activities they enjoy.”

Fielding noted 529,600 Manitobans were employed full-time in February, up from the pre-pandemic level of 525,300 in February 2020. Statistics show more positions now exist in educational services, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, construction and public administration. The accommodation and food services sector remains the hardest hit by the pandemic.

Manitoba’s unemployment rate is currently the second lowest in the country, falling 1.2 percentage points to 6.8 per cent in February. The national rate is 8.2 per cent. Youth unemployment in Manitoba decreased 3.2 percentage points to 15.7 per cent.

Females in Manitoba are outpacing their male counterparts in a return to the workforce, as female employment rose 12,300 people (4.2 per cent versus 1.6 for Canada) and male employment rose 3,800 people (1.1 per cent versus 1.3 nationally).

The unemployment rate for females is 7.3 per cent, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points and better than the national rate of 8.3 per cent. The male unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage points to 6.3 per cent, while the national rate is 8.2 per cent.

The survey also estimates private-sector employment, including self-employed Manitobans, increased 10,800 or 2.3 per cent, compared to 1.5 per cent across Canada, and public-sector jobs increased 5,400 or 3.4 per cent provincially versus 1.1 per cent nationally.

The Labour Force Survey bulletin will be available later today at www.gov.mb.ca/mbs.

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