Manitoba Region: North Central

Working age population (15+): 36,700
Employed labour force: 22,100
Unemployment rate: 4.7%
Participation rate: 63.2%

Major construction and infrastructure activities in 2011/12:

New $1.2 million Rural Municipality office of Grey with rental spaces of about 350-400 square feet. (Key Source: Morden Times)

Expansion to Water and Wastewater servicing for Centerport Centre, $17 million construction project. (Key Source: Manitoba News Release)

The Food Development Centre in Portage La Prairie is being expanded with the support of the federal and provincial governments to provide additional resources to innovators engaged in food and ingredient development.  In 2009/10, the Food Development Centre has helped to develop 48 new food products and completed nutritional analysis for 351 products. (Key Source: Manitoba Budget 2011)

Sperling Industries announced plans to invest $10 million to build a new 35,000 square foot automated fabricated structural steel plant. (Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press)

In 2011, the Government of Manitoba has announced the Flood 2011 Building and Recovery Action Plan, which will strengthen the ability of local communities to cope with future floods by expanding mitigation and flood control projects.  It will provide special assistance, such as the Hoop and Holler Compensation Program, Lake Manitoba Financial Assistance Program, Lake Manitoba Pasture Flooding Assistance Program, and Lake St Martin Area Assistance. (Key Source: Manitoba News Release)

North Central Region Industry Sectors 2011

From 2010 to 2011, Manitoba’s North Central region decreased total employment by -3.8% to 22,700 employed.  The goods-producing sector decreased by -15.1% to 6,200 employed; the services sector increased by 1.8% to 16,600 employed.

In 2011, the largest goods producing industry was manufacturing with 2,400 employed.  The largest services industry was health care and social assistance with 3,900 employed. 

Industries with largest year over year increases in employment between 2010 and 2011 included manufacturing - goods producing sector (33.3%) and public administration - services sector (62.5%).