Province of Manitoba Profile:

Strong, Stable & Diverse Economy

Manitoba's $30.0 billion economy continues to be one of North America's major success stories. A number of factors contribute to Manitoba's diversified and competitive economy including a highly skilled workforce, vast natural resources, low business costs, strategic geographic location, and a quality of life that is second to none, providing affordable housing and clean and safe communities.

Economic forecasters estimate that Manitoba's economy grew by 2.2%, keeping Manitoba among the fastest growing provinces for the fourth year in a row. A major achievement was Manitoba's posting of the lowest unemployment rate among Canadian provinces in both 1998 and 1999. Manitoba's unemployment rate is expected to decline further to 5.3% in 2000, based on the survey of seven private forecasters. Following growth in employment of 1.3% in 1999, employment is expected to increase 1.7% in 2000.

Manitoba's economy was built on resource sectors such as agriculture, forestry and mining, as well as Winnipeg's traditional role as the transportation gateway to Western Canada and later the American Midwest. Winnipeg also has the most diversified manufacturing centre in Western Canada, with a strong presence in such industries as agribusiness manufacturing, commercial printing, furniture and wood products manufacturing, apparel, food processing, bus manufacturing, health products, and aerospace.

The result is a mature and balanced economy, shielded from cyclical forces affecting less diversified regions.

From the development of new opportunities in the emerging global marketplace to the advancement of established sectors such as small business, agriculture, aerospace, garment trades, manufacturing and high technology health care, Manitobans are proving their ability to compete, not only in the Canadian, but in the global marketplace every day.

The following links can help provide additional information on Manitoba’s economy.

• Manitoba Industry, Trade & Tourism
• Manitoba Energy & Mines
• Manitoba Natural Resources
• Manitoba Agriculture
• Manitoba Advantage
• Manitoba Corporate and Consumer Affairs
• Manitoba Film & Sound

Traditional industries continue to modernize to increase their competitiveness and add value in their activities, promising more sustainable growth for Manitobans. However, scientific and technological research and innovation are now playing a more significant role in Manitoba's economy.

The province has become a focus of activity in the following areas:

• Information Technologies and Telecommunications
• Health Care Products and Services
• Biotechnology
• Environmental Industries

For information on Manitoba companies active in these knowledge-driven fields, search the Manitoba Companies Database.

Manitoba has solid and diverse industry sectors that can be seen in the following major industries (ranked by value of exports):

• Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Transportation Equipment
• Resource-Based Industries
• Machinery and Equipment
• Electronics, Apparel, Plastics
• Furniture and Building Products
• Printing
• Computers and Telecommunications
• Environmental Services
• Healthcare
• Aerospace

For more details on Industry Profiles in Manitoba visit the Manitoba Trade and Investment Corporation web site at http://www.gov.mb.ca/itt/trade/index.html.

Manitoba’s central location within North America provides easy access to international markets. The following tables provides information on Manitoba’s major export and import markets.

In 1999, Manitoba’s exports totaled over $7,981.4 million and its imports totaled over $8,235.3 million. Since 1990, Manitoba's exports to the world have more than doubled.