Manitoba Unemployment Soars 23% in One Year
WINNIPEG — A dramatic spike in Manitoba’s unemployment numbers over the last year shows Wab Kinew’s NDP government has done nothing to create and protect good-paying jobs in the province, Official Opposition Leader Wayne Ewasko said today.
Unemployment in Manitoba has risen sharply from 4% in January to 5.8% in November, according to Statistics Canada. Even more alarming, 40,900 Manitobans were unemployed last month—7,600 more than the 33,300 Manitobans reported without work in November 2023.
“The finance minister tried his best to put a positive spin on some very bad news this week,” said Ewasko. “But the truth is, there are more Manitobans who can’t afford to put gifts under the tree or dinner on the table for their families this Christmas because they are out of work and falling behind under this NDP government.”
Year over year, unemployment has gotten worse across the province. In Winnipeg, the unemployment rate has jumped from 4.4% to 5.9%. In Central Manitoba, including Portage la Prairie, unemployment has grown from 3.3% to 4.5%. In the Parkland and northern regions, unemployment has risen to 6.5%.
Meanwhile, youth unemployment has increased from 10% to 12.8%.
“The NDP have had 14 months to present an economic growth plan to Manitobans, but so far they’ve done the opposite,” said MLA Lauren Stone, PC Critic for Finance. “Just recently they let a $1.6-billion electric vehicle battery plant and thousands of jobs slip away to Ontario. Now, with the looming threat of Trump’s 25% tariffs that will devastate our economy, the NDP have failed to present a plan that gives Manitobans confidence in our economic future. Manitobans need a strategy now.”
Last week, the Kinew government refused to hold an emergency debate on Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs. The NDP have also refused to establish an all-party committee to safeguard jobs and shield the province from the economic shock of any new tariffs on Manitoba goods and services in the new year.
“This all just shows how out of touch this NDP government is with the challenges facing families and workers in Manitoba,” said Ewasko. “At a time when Manitobans need leadership and job security, all they’re getting are more trips to the unemployment line.”
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