‘Challenging time’: Nurses, health-care aides hiring forum draws on hope, experience

Srishty Sharma doesn’t have a preference — north, south, east or west.

She just wants a job.

The internationally educated nurse, alongside 260 other nurses and health-care aides, registered for a hiring forum put on by the Manitoba government. The Wednesday event was meant to connect employers — including all of the regional health authorities and Deer Lodge Centre care home in Winnipeg — with workers.

“Hiring (is) very difficult,” Sharma said. “Because I don’t have much Canadian experience … it’s pretty difficult to me.”

She was a nurse in India before moving to Canada in 2024. She got her licence to be a registered nurse in Manitoba late last year, she said. Since then, she’s been applying “everywhere.”

“I’m open for everywhere,” Sharma added Wednesday, minutes before leaving for an on-site interview.

“Because I don’t have much Canadian experience … it’s pretty difficult.”

She’d booked interviews with the Northern and Prairie Mountain regional health authorities. All RHAs were taking resumés and conducting interviews throughout the day-long forum, held at the downtown RBC Convention Centre.

John Lawas, originally from the Philippines, started his morning with an interview for the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.

“It’s a challenging time,” he said of finding a job, especially in Winnipeg hospitals. “Lots of nurses, they’re competing.”

Still, labour shortages persist province-wide. Data shared by the Manitoba Nurses Union shows nurse vacancy rates exceeding 24 per cent in every RHA outside Winnipeg and Shared Health as of, at the earliest, Oct. 1.

Prairie Mountain had the most vacant positions — 708 — according to a Feb. 23 count, the MNU data says. Statistics from the various health authorities were pulled at different times between October and February. When put together, there were upwards of 1,300 vacant positions.

Winnipeg had an approximate 12 per cent vacancy rate, according to the union.

“There’s difficulties with, sometimes, nurses that are internationally educated … to register and get into the system.”

Darlene Jackson, union president, said she often hears from nurses who “can’t seem to get over the threshold to get employed in Manitoba.”

“There’s difficulties with, sometimes, nurses that are internationally educated … to register and get into the system,” Jackson said, adding employers may be reluctant to hire if there’s a lack of experience.

She deemed the hiring forum a “good thing” to direct professionals to the skills upgrades they might need.

Red River College Polytechnic set up a booth; it offers a nurse re-entry program and health-care-specific communication courses.

The nurse re-entry program is partly meant to bridge gaps for immigrants. The New Democrat government has worked with RRC to shave down the time to graduation.

The hiring forum Wednesday was created, in part, for workers who haven’t had a “clear pathway to practice,” said Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara. “We have put our resources and training in ways that (workers) can access, to get them skilled up, get them connected and ready (for) the workforce.”

At least 60 health-care workers signed job offers on the spot Wednesday, Asagwara said. They expect the forum to become annual and brought to rural and northern communities, as well.

A price tag for the first event wasn’t available by end of day Wednesday.

While there, regional health authorities pitched themselves — and the jurisdictions they cover — to listening professionals.

Prairie Mountain representatives offered handouts on the communities of Swan River, Killarney and Dauphin — all with the message “Explore with us!”

Deer Lodge Centre had staff ready to answer health-care aides’ questions. They had 20 interviews scheduled, but were looking for more, said Al Coligado, a clinical educator at the facility.

“Ever since I started, there’s always a need for health-care aides,” said Coligado, who’s worked for Deer Lodge over the past seven years.

Health-care aides might move to different units within Deer Lodge or become nurses. There’s also a greater demand for staff as the general population ages and patients arrive with more complex needs, Coligado said.

He called the forum a “great opportunity” for job-seekers.

Sharma viewed the event as a way to fast-track her career: “I think this is the best opportunity for everyone who (is) coming new here.”

“There’s always a need for health-care aides.”

She learned about the event through LinkedIn; others said they found out on social media. Asagwara said the province is trying to recruit workers through a variety of formats, including websites and webinars.

Randolf Santos, 32, considered applying for jobs outside of Winnipeg as he passed RHA booths. The former machinist said he’s been unsuccessful finding work in Winnipeg.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com