Economic numbers from Manitoba show the province’s economy grew in 2022.

Economic Development, Investment, and Trade Minister Jeff Wharton says the economy expanded by approximately 3.6 percent last year, and is expected to grow by 0.9 percent this year.

Wharton says the province regained more than 100-thousand jobs after losing 90-thousand 500 during the pandemic low in April 2020.

He also says immigration levels helped grow the province’s labour market, with levels up 82.5 percent last year compared to the previous 12 months.

The province also posted an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent last year, below the national average of 5 percent.

Other points the province highlighted:

• manufacturing shipments totalling nearly $25 billion, roughly $600 million above pre-pandemic levels;
• farm cash receipts increasing by $1.4 billion to $9.8 billion, 48 per cent above pre-pandemic levels;
• foreign merchandise exports totalling $19.3 billion, more than $3 billion above pre-pandemic levels;
• investment in residential construction eclipsing $5 billion;
• labour force population surpassing 700,000 for the first time ever; and
• employee compensation exceeding $40 billion for the first time ever.