From Brandon to our rural communities, small and medium-sized businesses are facing real workforce pressures. Here’s why culture and people-first strategies are the keys to resilience.
If you’ve been running a business in Brandon or anywhere across rural Westman lately, you already know the challenge that’s keeping most leaders up at night: people. Or more specifically, finding them, keeping them, and keeping them happy.
The numbers back up what you’re probably seeing in real life. Statistics Canada reports that nearly one in four rural businesses now lists labour shortages as a critical obstacle—well above the rate for urban companies. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business adds that more than half of Manitoba’s small and medium-sized employers are struggling to hire, and nearly 70% say the talent pool just doesn’t line up with the skills they need. Around here, that often means staff wearing three hats, managers filling in on the floor, and teams running leaner than ever—all of which can quietly chip away at morale and culture.
But even when you do find the right people, another hurdle is waiting: the cost of keeping them. Inflation has been relentless, and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce says over three-quarters of local business leaders now see it as their number-one challenge. For rural employers, the bite is even sharper, with higher input and transportation costs squeezing margins. That leaves less room for competitive wages, health benefits, or the extras that make a workplace stand out. Culture doesn’t come cheap, and when budgets are tight, it’s often the first thing to be trimmed.
And then there’s the long game—talent for the future. Westman has no shortage of bright young people, but too many still believe opportunity only exists if they leave. Weak pipelines between schools, training programs, and local employers mean many students don’t realize the careers they could build right here at home. Without that next wave of talent, turnover rises, succession planning gets tougher, and it’s harder to build teams that feel rooted in the community.
When you step back, these three issues—labour shortages, rising costs, and youth retention—aren’t isolated problems. They overlap, intersect, and create a cycle where businesses feel like they’re constantly playing catch-up. But here’s the twist: these challenges also create opportunities. When employers get creative about recruitment, rethink retention, and make culture a real competitive advantage, workforce problems can actually become workforce strengths.
That’s exactly what this newsletter is here to explore. Each month, we’ll share practical ideas, local insight, and real-world strategies to help Westman businesses not only navigate today’s challenges, but also build stronger workplaces for tomorrow.
In our next article, we’ll dig into the “how”—from simple, affordable culture-building practices to smarter approaches to recruitment and retention. Because while the headwinds are real, so is the resilience of Westman businesses. And when we put people at the centre, everyone wins.
Rob Starkell
(with help from ChatGPT)
References
- Statistics Canada. Input and transportation costs, labour issues among headwinds for rural businesses. (2023)
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/8220-input-and-transportation-costs-labour-issues-among-headwinds-rural-businesses - Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Mind the Gap: Workforce challenges holding back Canada’s small businesses. (2023)
https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/research-economic-analysis/mind-the-gap-workforce-challenges-holding-back-canadas-small-businesses - Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Shortage of applicants, mismatched job expectations among key hiring challenges for small businesses. (2023)
https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/shortage-of-applicants-mismatched-job-expectations-among-key-hiring-challenges-for-small-businesses - Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. Manitoba Chamber of Commerce Survey forecasts inflation to remain the primary challenge facing business leaders in Manitoba. (Jan 2024)
https://mbchamber.mb.ca/2024/01/11/manitoba-chamber-of-commerce-survey-forecasts-inflation-to-remain-the-primary-challenge-facing-business-leaders-in-manitoba - Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. Attracting and retaining talent. (Sept 2023)
https://mbchamber.mb.ca/2023/09/14/attracting-and-retaining-talent - Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. New challenge on the horizon for Manitoba businesses: latest Manitoba Business Outlook Survey results. (Jan 2025)
https://mbchamber.mb.ca/2025/01/31/new-challenge-on-the-horizon-for-manitoba-businesses-latest-manitoba-business-outlook-survey-results-show
