you're right. you don't need a job offer to apply for manitoba pnp. there's a few different streams in mpnp, one of them gives you an option of being sponsored by your friends or a community from manitoba. also there's a strategic stream whereby you can get a letter of invitation from a manitoba immigration officer during one of the immigration fairs or you can go on an exploratory trip to manitoba and go to a pre-scheduled interview with a manitoba immigration officer. during that exploratory visit you're supposed to find out as much as possible about manitoba such as job opportunities, schooling and so on. if you successfully go through the interview you'll receive a letter of invitation and you'll be able to apply in manitoba pnp.
what about the ordinary skilled worker program like the one for quebec? does such a program exist? i basically want to compare that process with the quebec process, and know why one is preferable and why.