There are no jobs in Manitoba! We hear that so often that we tend to believe it. Apparently, there's plenty of work available, but not in every field. I wish the Free Press had a more comprehensive article about what's in demand and what isn't. ----------------------- A new Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) study released Tuesday found Manitoba small businesses had roughly 11,000 full- and part-time job openings unfilled for at least four months last year. Nationally, the tally was closer to 251,000 positions.
A local CFIB official said the situation likely hasn't improved much since the federation surveyed its members last summer.
"I'd be stunned if even a small portion of those 11,000 (Manitoba) positions have been filled," Shannon Martin, the federation's director of provincial affairs for Manitoba, said in an interview.
Although that's discouraging for worker-starved businesses, the CFIB figures another employment-related survey released yesterday should help boost the spirits of anyone looking for a job.
Manitoba's most wanted workers, in order of demand:
College grads or apprentices -- Forty-one per cent of Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey respondents said they're seeking workers with either college-level education or two to five years of apprenticeship training. That includes carpenters, plumbers, mechanics and chefs/cooks.
High school grads or specialized training -- Twenty-nine per cent said they're looking for workers with a high school education or specialized, occupation-specific training. That includes salespeople, drivers, clerks, child-care workers and machine operators.
Labourers -- Twenty-two per cent said they're seeking workers with no formal education. That includes cashiers, security guards, cleaners, labourers and kitchen help.
University grads -- Six per cent said they're looking for university graduates with a bachelor's, master's or doctorate-level degree. That includes accountants, engineers, teachers and lawyers.
I'd also like to know how many people graduate from Manitoba colleges and universities and whether or not the workforce is able to absorb all those who stay in Manitoba.
[quote][cite] Sputnik:[/cite]6% looking for university grads.
So there are basically 660 jobs available for people with degrees. How many people graduate from the U of M and U of W every year?
I guess they can always work as a security guard or in a call centre to pay off their student loans... or move to Ontario or Alberta.[/quote]
Read again ... 6% of respondents NOT 6% of openings. As for the recent graduates, the field of study is probably much more important than the piece of paper that says degree. Those that graduate from a professional, business oriented, or co-op program will most certainly be able to pick their future employers. Those with a liberal arts or other useless degrees will have to compete for the unskilled jobs or spend another 2 years in college.
Manitoba has an unemployment rate of almost 4% - many labour market analysts would consider this a "natural" rate of unemployment i.e. it can not drop any lower because those that do not work either don't want to are not employable for other reasons. The implication is that for any new job that gets filled another one will have to be left. This should be favourable for workers who will have more bargaining power, but also suggests a major labour shortage. Businesses will have to actively recruit in Provinces or Countries with higher unemployment rates.
I wonder how many of the 11,000 jobs are entry level. Assuming that there are probably close to 5000 grads each year from Manitoba colleges and universities each year it is surprising that one would look at these figures and then be shocked that Manitoba young people are leaving the province by the thousands each year.
Also if there are supposedly 10,000 immigrants coming to Manitoba each year where are the jobs for them? If half of the immigrants are children that leaves 5000 people needing jobs. Since most trained immigrants cant work in their field of training they are left to fight over the 2500 labour jobs available. Based on the census numbers released recently it would appear that most of the immigrants coming to Manitoba arent hanging around that long either.
11,000 jobs might seem like a big number, but with most of the jobs requiring only high school or LESS it is hardly something that Manitoba should be proud of.
[quote][cite] Sputnik:[/cite] 11,000 jobs might seem like a big number, but with most of the jobs requiring only high school or LESS it is hardly something that Manitoba should be proud of.[/quote]
Those are not all vacant jobs, only those that have been unfilled in SMALL businesses (usually defined as less than 50 employees). Larger companies may have more demand for people with more education.
[quote][cite] Sputnik:[/cite] Also if there are supposedly 10,000 immigrants coming to Manitoba each year where are the jobs for them? If half of the immigrants are children that leaves 5000 people needing jobs. Since most trained immigrants cant work in their field of training they are left to fight over the 2500 labour jobs available. Based on the census numbers released recently it would appear that most of the immigrants coming to Manitoba arent hanging around that long either. [/quote]
That is exactly what I was thinking. I would think that most would realize that higher wages and a superior quality of life can be found elsewhere, and would only bide their time in Manitoba before heading elsewhere. :neutral:
[quote][cite] Sputnik:[/cite] Based on the census numbers released recently it would appear that most of the immigrants coming to Manitoba arent hanging around that long either.[/quote]
The 2006 census data released so far has no information about immigration or about how long people have resided. Only population counts have been released.
[quote][cite] Merlin:[/cite][quote][cite] Sputnik:[/cite] Based on the census numbers released recently it would appear that most of the immigrants coming to Manitoba arent hanging around that long either.[/quote]
The 2006 census data released so far has no information about immigration or about how long people have resided. Only population counts have been released.[/quote]
Correct. I really doesnt say anything about how many immigrants have stayed in Manitoba.
However the census does tell us that the 5 years between 2001 and 2006 the Manitoba population grew by 28818 people. The Manitoba government also claims that about 10000 people immigrated to Manitoba in 2006 and about 7500 in 2005. even if only 3000 people immigrated to Manitoba each year from 2001-2004 you are still dealing with lots of people leaving Manitoba. Since many immigrants are forced to work menial jobs because Canada continues to refuse to recognize their education from abroad it makes sense that they would leave to a place where the blue collar work pays better than it does in Manitoba. Why hang around for $8/hr when you can get $15-20/hr elsewhere in the country.
Even if the entire immigrant population is residing permanently in Manitoba there must be other people leaving in droves then. There is also still the limited professional job opportunities for those that are educated with degrees or with many years of experience. Herein lies a huge brain drain which forces many grads and young professionals out of Manitoba to look for work that suits their career goals.
To me this doesnt say anything new about the Manitoba job market.
Well the way I look at it is if your not disabled, or not able to work due to illness or whatever, there really isn't an excuse to be un-employed in this province.
I think some people need to get it out of their heads that they aren't going to have their dream job off the bat.
One of the problems when graduating and taking a job in a different field of work is the ability to actively job search in your chosen field of work during teh day. Unless you take a night job, few employers like it much when you use their phones during the day to talk to other potential employers. Then there are the issues with taking a 1/2 day off for interviews and other such items. Minor problems yes, but when you are first starting out in the big world, problems that can seem rather daunting.
[quote][cite] Stonekiller:[/cite]Well the way I look at it is if your not disabled, or not able to work due to illness or whatever, there really isn't an excuse to be un-employed in this province.
I think some people need to get it out of their heads that they aren't going to have their dream job off the bat.[/quote]
They cant work. They are too busy "raising" their 5 welfare babies.
Any able bodied person, who can hammer, stucco, paint, do electrical, plumber , carpenter, automotive, truck driver, you name it , there are all sorts of openings, as well as in the service business'
There is no excuse for someone , who is half alive, or half dead, not to be working both full or part time.
There are even more jobs available in Alberta, I think I saw the figure 55,000, but take your bed, as sleeping somewhere with a ceiling over your head may be a problem.
"College grads or apprentices -- Forty-one per cent of Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey respondents said they're seeking workers with either college-level education or two to five years of apprenticeship training. That includes carpenters, plumbers, mechanics and chefs/cooks."
College level education or minimum 2 years appenticeship training. Where are you going to get the first 2 years of apprenticeship if nobody will hire unless you have it. I went to college to apprentice, and I still can't get work. Wow, went to college, can't get a job, because I haven't worked in the field. Can't work in the field because I can't get a job. Good system. And they wonder why there's no new apprentices out there.
It's possible. A family member just graduated from high school this June and took an apprenticeship to become an electrician with an independent contractor.
Unfortunately that is how the apprenticeship system works. I had no problem getting my apprenticeship as a machinist, started at Standard Aero and worked my way up the apprenticeship ladder and decided mid-way that it wasn't what I wanted to do for life and went to college instead. Once you find a place to work chances are they will help you with getting your red seal.
There are lots of jobs in Canada and Manitoba. I don't believe that most of them are entry-level (no education or experience necessary) jobs. I've started working for Career Trek, an organization that's fighting poverty through education. What I learned from them is that Manitoba has a severe shortage of skilled workers--tradespeople, teachers, etc.