Manitoba organizations have great expectations for 2023. This does not mean that the road away from the effects of the pandemic will be simple or easy. Roadblocks remain. But over the last few years, businesses have learned that they need to be nimble and resourceful to leap over hurdles preventing them from succeeding.

According to the Manitoba Outlook Survey (requested by Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and executed by Leger), “70% of Manitoba business leaders indicate they are near or have exceeded pre-pandemic revenues.”  CEO and president of the Chambers, Chuck Davidson, tempered the enthusiasm by noting that “businesses are now being impacted by inflationary pressures and workforce shortages, both of which are impacting further recovery efforts.”

A common concern unites businesses—staffing. Ask Manitoba employers what keeps them up at night in 2023 and their answers will be finding or keeping great employees.

Demographics seem to be against them.

A recent Free Press article called, “City staffing crunch demands innovative solutions,” explains what many of us already knew about the concerns about this issue: “Canada’s workforce is aging. The population now has more people between 55 and 64, around the age of retirement, than it does between 15 and 24.”

A larger than normal attrition rate has been on the horizon for decades. Filling these large staffing holes left by baby boomer retirements was meant to be addressed with solid planning. But as many of us observed, companies were hit hard by several issues, including 2022’s great resignation. Due to unexpected retirements, vacancies and other more dire concerns, many company plans were disrupted.  Let’s face it, in 2017, who folded a pandemic into their five-year plans?

In years past, workers jostled to get stable employment with companies offering benefits and a pension. While salary, benefits and pensions are key components drawing applicants to organizations, the Free Press story further notes that “the conversation is bigger than money. Many gen-Zers are also rejecting the idea that one’s identity comes from work.”

This may explain the desire by many to work from home. Whether you call it work/life balance or just a plain desire to avoid heavy commutes, the result is the same: the Manitoban workforce is looking for employers who are flexible.

For the winners of this year’s Manitoba’s Top Employers competition, selected by Mediacorp Canada Inc., responding to changing needs is key to attracting and retaining top talent. Top employers have adopted hybrid work options where possible and focused on incorporating flexibility into their policies, such as flexible start and end times, paid personal days to enable employees to uphold personal commitments, and paid time-off for illness and well-being.

Organizations recognized this year also ensure that their benefits serve employees at every stage of their lives, whether it’s maternity and parental leave top-up for those starting a family or long-term savings that bring peace of mind for retirement. The best employers work to improve the lives of their people, and the 2023 winners are shining examples of just that.