In October 2019, the Manitoba government announced their plan to work with partners in the private sector to create 40,000 new private-sector job opportunities over the next four years. The Manitoba work plan focuses on targeted actions to help create the right conditions to support private-sector job creation and overall growth in Manitoba’s economy. This includes accelerating talent acquisition and business expansion by fast-tracking the development of a Manitoba’s Skills, Talent and Knowledge Strategy.

Manitoba’s Skills, Talent and Knowledge Strategy was released in 2020 to provide strategic direction to publicly-funded post-secondary institutions and outline actions needed to accelerate recovery, advance Manitoba’s economy and promote positive outcomes. The strategy includes targeted actions to strengthen alignment between post-secondary institutions, immigration, training and employment services, and labour market needs. The strategy was informed by robust stakeholder engagement, including sector council partners.

With this strategy in mind, the Manitoba Construction Sector Council, Manitoba Home Builders’ Association, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, Winnipeg Construction Association and First People Development Inc. are hosting a 1-day Manitoba Women in Trades Conference, March 16, 2022 (7:30am-4:00pm) at the Victoria Inn Hotel & Conference Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The conference is geared toward women who need support, guidance, and connections to make their construction career a success, as well as to employers, superintendents, project managers and estimators to identify ways to recruit, retain and support women in trades.