YOUTH RETENTION
A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUTH RETENTION BY TODD LEWYS
FOR SOME YEARS NOW, THERE’S BEEN MUCH TALK OF HOW HARD IT’S BECOME FOR MANITOBA TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN DOCTORS AND NURSES TO STAFF ITS BELEAGUERED HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM.
A nd while that situation is a major concern, it’s merely tied to a much larger issue: the number of people, particularly youths, who’ve been leaving Manitoba in search of better education and employment opportunities and to experience a different quality of life. “In the 10-year period between fiscal years 2011-12 and 2021-22, Manitoba experienced a net loss of just under 70,000 people to other provinces,” says Elisabeth Saftiuk, vice-president of policy and government relations for the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. “We took the biggest hit in 2021-22 when we saw a net loss of over 10,000 people to other provinces.” It’s an issue that Saftiuk and her colleagues at the chamber are acutely aware of. “Over the past five years, we’ve been polling the city’s business community,” she notes. “What we’ve been hearing is that their No. 1 concern is labour, particularly attracting and retaining
workers. We also travel around the province and talk with local chambers. Their No. 1 challenge is also their workforce. That labour shortage is causing a lot of uncertainty.” The bigger question is why are people — particularly youths — leaving the province at such a high rate? To find out, the chamber enlisted the services of the Canada West Foundation to study the situation. Other project partners include Economic Development Winnipeg, Business Council of Manitoba, Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation and the Government of Manitoba. “We’ve been tasked to look into the issue,” says Janet Lane, Canada West Foundation’s director of the Human Capital Centre. “Even though our study isn’t complete, we found that a few thousand people are leaving Manitoba every year — not just youth; some are older. It’s a worrisome trend.” Their study started in early spring
and is expected to be complete by mid-December or early in the new year. To gain insight, Canada West Foundation recently conducted a baseline survey. “We surveyed 500 youths from all over Manitoba, with the age range being primarily 18 to 30 but going up to 45,” Lane says. “At the same time, for comparison, we surveyed 300 youths in each of Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto to see how youth were feeling there. Our goal was to understand their experience — their perceptions of the city they live in, and why or why not they would consider moving to another province.” The study also included a survey of employers and newcomers to the province. Next, Canada West Foundation will survey young adults attending University College of the North, francophone Manitobans and alumni of the province’s post- secondary institutions.
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WINTER 2023
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