A recent study of 27 Canadian cities, identifying the best cities for young Canadians to work, found that Winnipeg ranked in the top five out of four key index categories. These areas include public transportation, income generation, entrepreneurial spirt, equity and inclusion.

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This article was published 17/5/2021 (363 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A recent study of 27 Canadian cities, identifying the best cities for young Canadians to work, found that Winnipeg ranked in the top five out of four key index categories. These areas include public transportation, income generation, entrepreneurial spirt, equity and inclusion. 

The Youthful Cities Urban Index funded by RBC Future Launch, is a unique, comprehensive index offering data-driven insights looking at the best cities in the country for people to work aged 15-29.

Winnipeg was ranked as the top city for youth to work in the Prairies. Affordability was a key factor.  Of the 27 cities studied, Winnipeg had the lowest required liveable wage and the most affordable basket of goods. The index topic — income generation — compared minimum, livable, student wages and youth-generated income across all cities in Canada. Winnipeg earned forth place in this category.

The city also finished second place in access to public transportation, behind only Vancouver.  Winnipeg’s second overall ranking in this topic was helped by finishing first in the sub-indicators of public transit usage and biking accessibility.

The goal of the index was to produce a comprehensive picture of how Canadian cities perform as placed for youth people to work and thrive.  It analyzed and ranked cities according to 76 urban work indicators and eleven topics.

The study was funded by RBC Future Launch, an initiative aimed at working with community partners to actively help young people prepare for the future of work.

"Winnipeg is one of the world’s best kept secrets," says Kim Ulmer, RBC Regional President, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, & Western Ontario. "With its thriving arts scene, innovation hubs, emerging transportation solutions, and diverse population, it is poised for its comeback story like no other.  It is a stage where youth can pursue their potential, find affordable living, and escape to beautiful green space amidst a festival rich and vibrant city centre."

"It’s spirited history of advancing human rights can only be matched by its future potential driven by youth and the entrepreneurial spirit that calls Winnipeg home," Ulmer continued. "We are grateful for the data driven partnership of Youthful Cities Urban Index for telling us something that we already know about this gateway to the West – while there is still work to be done, this is one special city for young people to live and grow."    

More than 1,100 young people from 27 Canadian cities were employed as urban researchers in the fall of 2020 to collect public data on the included cities, as well as to conduct surveys and interviews with youth to help inform the new index topics and indicators.

The complete Youthful Cities 2021 Urban Work Index is available to view online.