Statistics Canada says unemployment has dropped nationwide. Manitoba's growth, however, seems to be slowing to a halt.

StatsCan says that unemployment closed out 2017 nationwide at 5.7 per cent.

This marks its lowest comparable data since it became available in 1976. The unemployment reading last month generated 78,600 net new positions for the economy, including 23,700 full-time jobs. 

The agency's labour force survey says employment rose 2.3 per cent in 2017 for its fastest growth rate in 15 years. The economy added 422,500 jobs last year with the gains driven by 394,200 new full-time positions.

David Camfield the Head of Labour Studies Program at the University of Manitoba, gave his thoughts on the subject:

"It's interesting and it's noticeable... but it doesn't look at issues around the quality of work, just the quantity. The quality of work is still under question."

He says there has been a trend working in this direction, but nothing about this unemployment rate is significantly dramatic.

Camfield notes when unemployment rates fall, it doesn't necessarily mean people are getting jobs. It can mean that people are not actively looking for jobs. If what is called a "discouraged worker" is not looking for work, they are taken out of the count which results in unemployment rates going down.

As explained by Camfield, the standard definition utilized by Statistics Canada for unemployed is people without work, who are available for work, and are actively seeking work.

He says the Manitoba economy tends to fluctuate less than the national economy. Growth is slower, but decline is slower. For example, Manitoba was much less affected in comparison to other provinces during the recession of 2008 and 2009.

"When we look at it a little more closely, Manitoba's rate [of employment] is pretty steady...The total number of jobs went up by 2.1 per cent.

"In general, Manitoba is pretty slow and steady."

"There are still people who are unemployed that need jobs. There are also still people that do have jobs and can't make enough money... They don't have enough money... The pay is too low... There are people that have jobs and are still couch surfing. There is still that whole problem about having affordable housing."

At Siloam Mission, they pay attention to their metrics on a daily and monthly basis whether that involves the meals they serve, activity at their shelter, the people they help with health and mental health services, as well as progressive and transitional services.

Jim Bell, the CEO at Siloam Mission, says "Our shelter has 110 beds. We're full every night. On average there is twenty or more that are turned away.

"The common number of meals on a monthly basis is plus or minus 40,000 a lot."

He also agrees that there is a mental health trend in regards to finances. "It is something that we are paying very very close attention to. We understand it often starts with a meal when people come into our building and require our services. But, at the same time, it doesn't stop there."

"One thing we do understand is if we are able to help younger people with respect to the hardships they are facing including those leading up to helplessness. If we can help them at a relatively young age, there is a good chance they won't be requiring the services from Siloam Mission that could be used in their 30s - 40s. It's critical that we pay attention to that. Certainly the ability to help younger people could be fundamental to our social enterprise and housing services."

A significant trend has been discovered resulting in the growth of youth who are no longer seeking employment.

Camfield says, "the youth [ages 15-24] unemployment rate over the last year went down by 2.3 per cent. But [the statistics report] says 66,000 fewer people in that category were looking for work."

Jim Bell, the CEO of Siloam Mission, notes we need to pay attention to those statistics in order to create jobs, opportunities, and initiatives. He feels if we all work together, we have the opportunity to do that.

In a separate report released early Friday Morning, Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit widened to $2.5 billion in November, compared with a 1.6 billion deficit before, due to the outgrowth of imports versus exports.