The Winnipeg region is comprised of five Economic Regions (ERs) as defined by Statistics Canada: South East Manitoba, South Central Manitoba, North Central Manitoba, Winnipeg, and Interlake. The region’s GDP was an estimated $49 billion in 2018, 11% of which was generated by the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is also a major employer in the region, accounting for 9% of the total labour force.

The region has a positive economic outlook with annual GDP growth of at least 2.0% projected through 2029. However, the region’s manufacturing sector is expected to see its GDP growth slow in the coming years.

The Winnipeg region’s population was an estimated 1 million in 2018. Healthy population growth is expected in the region through 2025 before slowing in the latter half of the next decade. Population growth will likely be driven primarily by migration into the region as a declining birth rate means little natural population change. The region is expected to see an aging trend in its population, with the share of the population aged 65 years and over projected to increase from 16% in 2016 to 18% by 2030. The region is also expected to see its unemployment fall from 6.3% in 2016 to 5% by 2020 before stabilizing over the coming decade.

The Winnipeg region’s automotive manufacturing industry employed an estimated 3,700 workers across 12 businesses in 2018, based on findings from industry contacts, company websites, industry literature and other sources of publicly available data. Employment in the past five years is estimated to have ranged from a low of 3,500 in 2013 to its peak in 2018. The region is home to three OEM bus assembly plants that employ an estimated 2,300 employees. A total of 9 parts suppliers located in the region employ an additional 1,300 workers.