b'LABOUR FORCE FEATUREWhile Manitobas population demographics provide it with a significant advantage over other provinces, there is no time for complacency. The competition for talent in the future is expected to intensify.diversify the construction labour force. Despite these recent efforts, however, only 26 per cent of the approximately 5,930 women employed in Manitobas construction industry worked directly in on-site construction. Of the total on-site skilled trades workforce, women accounted for just four per cent of the industrys 38,600 tradespeople. The industry has been far more successful in broadening its recruitment of Indigenous people, who as a group204-661-1055accounted for approximately 17 per cent1820 DeVries Ave.of the provinces construction labourWinnipeg, MBforce in 2021the highest among all provincial labour forces. Given the predisposition of Indigenous peoplePRODUCTS FOR THE INDUSTRYtowards careers in the construction sector, there may be scope to increase these numbers even further.www.springhilllumber.comAnd finally, as Canada welcomes nearly 1.5 million newcomers over the next three years, the construction industry will need to increase its recruitment of newcomers. Presently, newcomers make up just 15 per cent of the provinces construction workforce, which is far less than the 24 per cent share working in the broader labour force.While Manitobas population demographics provide it with a significant advantage over other provinces, there is no time for complacency. The competition for talent in the future is expected to intensify. Maintaining a recruitment focus on increasing the participation rate of women, Indigenous people and new Canadians in the provincial construction labour force will be important to ensure that Manitobas construction industry can effectively respond to anticipated future demands for construction services.Issue 2 | Summer Edition | 2023 BUILD MANITOBA 33'