Winnipeg, MB, Sept. 18 – Economic stability and career opportunities. A rich and vibrant culture. A cost of living that’s lower than other provinces. Despite all that Manitoba has to offer, youth are leaving.
Over the past decade, Manitoba has experienced a net loss of 23,140 young people aged 15 to 34 due to interprovincial migration (more people leaving than arriving).
With this in mind, a project administered by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce through funding from the Government of Manitoba’s COVID-19 Long-Term Recovery Fund was launched, asking the Canada West Foundation to investigate why young people choose to leave the province and how they could be attracted and retained. The Canada West Foundation report, Finding Their Place: Manitoba youth mobility, is based on an extensive literature review and a broad investigation into the reality of life for youth in Manitoba.
Key findings suggest youth have both perceptual and valid concerns that might motivate them to leave, with economic reasons only one of many factors. For instance:
- Safety is a key concern for youth, who view Winnipeg and to a lesser extent, the rest of Manitoba, as unsafe.
- Youth identified opportunities for career advancement, better benefits, flexible hours, remote work and more vacation as reasons they would consider leaving Manitoba for a job.
- Youth also want to live in communities that are vibrant and offer diverse activities in arts and culture, and they perceive Manitoba as mostly rural with little diversity and vibrancy.
- The top economic factors for youth considering a move to a new community or province are housing costs and low tax rates
However, it’s not one size fits all: research highlighted differences in attitudes and experiences between newcomers, First Nations, and Francophone youth. For instance, First Nations youth prioritized family and community connection while Francophone youth wanted to live in larger Francophone communities. Newcomers prioritize a job and those communities or provinces where they can put their previous education and skills to work faster.
Although resolving identified challenges will be a complex process, in part because problems and solutions differ across subgroups, they are not insurmountable. Manitobans can come together to work to change these and other narratives to keep youth at home.
“While affordability dominates headlines, there are many reasons why a young person chooses to stay in or leave a particular place. This report provides the foundation for communities to build solutions to help youth stay. We look forward to working with Manitobans to develop and implement solutions to this long-standing problem.”
– Stephany Laverty, report author and Senior Policy Analyst, Canada West Foundation
“You need to have a growing economy to enhance the social services that make a community safe, healthy, and vibrant. Having youth here in the province is a key component to this. All of Manitoba has a role to play in resolving this decades-old problem and this report offers a place to start.”
– Chuck Davidson, President and CEO, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT
MEDIA CONTACTS
Sherry Kaniuga, Marketing & Communications
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
[email protected]
204-290-2903
Ruth Klinkhammer, Communications Director
Canada West Foundation
[email protected]
403 852-7651
About the Canada West Foundation
The Canada West Foundation is the only public policy think tank that focuses on issues that matter to the West. We provide solutions in three areas: resources, environment and economy; skills, innovation and productivity; and trade and trade infrastructure.
About the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) has championed businesses across Manitoba since 1931 through advocacy, valuable programs, and strategic partnerships. MCC plays a pivotal role in shaping policy, promoting economic development, and providing essential support to Manitoba’s diverse business community, with the vision of making Manitoba the best place to live and work.
