Rural employers in need of hundreds of new workers within three years
Manitoba has launched a new immigration pilot designed specifically to address labour needs in rural areas.
The government has unveiled the West-Central Immigration Initiative, a three-year pilot program designed to address labour shortages and succession planning in these areas.
The province is collaborating with seven rural municipalities and Gambler First Nation for the initiative.
“Manitoba is a leader when it comes to enabling growth and vitality of communities through immigration,” said Malaya Marcelino, labour and immigration minister. “Our government is proud to partner with rural municipalities through the West-Central Immigration Initiative to help local economies and communities across Manitoba grow and thrive. By working together, we’re responding to the local needs for skilled workers in rural Manitoba and ensuring Manitoba continues to be a welcoming province.”
Earlier this year, a group of skilled workers in Manitoba called on the provincial government to do away with the family-ties consideration in its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Manitoba is partnering with the following for the West-Central Immigration Initiative:
- Municipality of Russell-Binscarth
- Rural Municipality of Yellowhead
- Municipality of Roblin
- Rural Municipality of Ellice-Archie
- Rural Municipality of Riding Mountain West
- Rossburn Municipality
- Prairie View Municipality
- Gambler First Nation.
Employment needs in rural areas
Manitoba’s newest immigration initiative comes as employers in rural are in need of hundreds of workers.
Overall, the region would need 240 to 300 people within three years due to new jobs created, replacements, retirement and general growth, according to a survey of 85 employers, said Marcelino.
And an increasing number of provincial nominees are choosing to settle in rural communities – 25 per cent in 2023 compared to 16.2 per cent in 2012.
“The Municipality of Russell-Binscarth is proud to partner with Gambler First Nation and our neighbouring municipalities to form the West Central Manitoba Immigration initiative,” said Mayor Judy Snitynsky, Russell-Binscarth. “Through this collaborative partnership, we look forward to expanding our immigration networks and showcasing the unlimited potential that we offer for newcomers to this area of Manitoba.”
The federal government have made numerous changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program this year.