Businesses in Ritchot can expect some additional help in the coming months when it comes to beefing up their labour force, thanks to the municipality’s collaborative relationships with the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and CDEM, Manitoba’s bilingual economic development council.
On January 21, representatives of the CDEM providing council with updates on an initiative they call Strengthening of the Labour Market. This project is a part of a bigger challenge known as the French immigration strategy.
“Today we are here to share with you… what the opportunities are and how we are linking the needs of your employers to our programs at CDEM,” said Madeleine Arbez, executive director of CDEM. “We can help them at no cost because you are a member of AMBM.”
The project was initially launched in May 2023. Over the past 18 months, CDEM has been collecting data on Ritchot’s business sector through surveys and personal connections.
Going forward, CDEM will work alongside participating employers to help them build and diversify their labour force through recruitment, retention, and training.
In 2024, 241 Ritchot employers were contacted by the CDEM, resulting in 28 of them choosing to participate in the labour market program. The industries they represent include agriculture, construction, and other services. A good number were small businesses employing between two and ten people.
Forty percent of the businesses surveyed said they struggle with employee retention. Another 53 percent reported difficulty in finding qualified personnel. Their recruitment challenges include a lack of available housing in the RM, transportation concerns, and few training opportunities.
Approximately half of the survey respondents said they prefer to hire local when they can and prioritize diversity with a focus on bilingualism. Almost 60 percent shared a desire to participate in CDEM workshops to improve their recruitment strategies.
The first workshop took place at Ritchot’s business expo at the TC Energy Centre on January 22. It was led by Nina Condo, an expert in diversity and inclusion.
Research performed by CDEM in 2024 has paved the way to developing a database of employers along with a list of their unique challenges and needs.
“This is really an important step for CDEM because it gives us one of the most enviable lists and programs which can help employers,” said Arbez.
The CDEM also provides a variety of grants and grant application assistance for participating business owners.
