Employers looking to sweeten the deal for new employees amid labour shortage
Employers in Manitoba are looking to attract a younger generation to join the workforce amid an ongoing labour shortage.
Experts say there are enough workers here in Manitoba, they just aren't actually in the workforce, meaning employers are having to sweeten the deal.
One business owner says they haven't had any trouble with hiring as they have been focused on making their business a desirable place to work.
One day since The Forks Trading Company owner Brad Hewlett posted a job posting for a bookkeeper, applications have been pouring in.
"We've had an overwhelming response," said Hewlett. "We've actually had a lot of people, way more than I anticipated come out for the job."
He said he's done what he can to make it a good job for a potential new hire, including offering a higher than normal wage.
"We also do birthdays off with pay, we have profit share, we do bonuses, 40 per cent discount on all the merchandise we sell. We are very flexible in terms of hours, we just try to make it as good of an environment as we can."
Jason Gill, the vice president of Staffmax and Recruiting said this is something Manitoba businesses are having to do more of.
"They may be looking at paying more, not only to new hires but their current staff that they have, but they also have to look into flex schedules. How much work from home as well as just being a little more understanding when you know, people need time off to be flexible, because you want to keep those people happy," said Gill.
According to Statistics Canada's most recent labour force survey, employment in Manitoba is up 0.4 per cent since June and up 2.8 per cent since July last year.
Unemployment dropped by 7.9 per cent since June and 42 per cent since July 2021, with both Manitoba and Winnipeg's unemployment rates sitting beneath the Canadian rate.
However, Fletcher Baragar, an associate professor of economics at the University of Manitoba, said the labour force itself hasn't been keeping pace with the demand.
"The population is there, but what we've seen really in the last year, especially in Manitoba, is out of the population that is there, you could say the potential labour force, fewer or a lower percentage of that population are making the decision to actually go into the market," said Baragar.
He said fewer people between the ages of 15 and 24 are joining the workforce and more people over the age of 55 are dropping out of it, which is what is leading to the labour shortage.
"To keep workers in the labour force and attract more people into the labour force, probably what's going to need to happen is higher wages, better working conditions, better benefits."
Those are factors that Hewlett is focused on.
"We get them in and enjoy our second little family and just have a lot of fun," said Hewlett.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.