Nova Scotia, February 2025 - Job market snapshot

Get a snapshot of key facts about the state of Nova Scotia's labour market in the past month.

Employment in Nova Scotia decreased by 4,300 jobs (-0.8%) over the last month. The decline in employment this month is entirely due to loss of part-time employment. The labour force (those working or looking for work) fell by 400 people (-0.1%) this month, which is 900 (+0.2%) higher than a year ago. The province's unemployment rate increased to 6.6% in February from 5.9% the previous month.

Nova Scotia's job market by the numbers

Working population

522,900

Down -0.8% since January

Unemployment rate

6.6%

Up 0.7 pts since January

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0287-01 - Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months

Industries in focus

Health care and social assistance

Number of jobs decreased -2.0%

January85,800

February84,100

Employment in the health care and social assistance industry dropped by 1,700 jobs (-2.0%) over the last month. The number of job vacancies in the industry in Q3 2024 was 4,865, 205 higher than the same quarter a year prior.

Professional, scientific and technical services

Number of jobs decreased -3.6%

January36,100

February34,800

In February, employment fell by 1,300 jobs (-3.6%) in the professional, scientific and technical services industry compared to the previous month. The number of job vacancies in the industry in Q3 2024 was 830, 80 lower than the same quarter a year prior.

Construction

Number of jobs increased 6.0%

January43,300

February45,900

Employment in the construction industry increased by 6,600 (+16.8%) over the last 12 months, including a gain of 2,600 (+6.0%) in the last month. The number of job vacancies in the industry in Q3 2024 was 885, 955 lower than the same quarter a year prior.

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0355-02 - Employment by industry, monthly, seasonally adjusted (x 1,000)

Unemployment rate by region

Annapolis Valley
6.0%
Cape Breton
9.3%
Halifax
4.6%
North Shore
6.9%
Southern
7.3%

The unemployment rate was lowest in Halifax and highest in Cape Breton.

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0387-01 - Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality, last 5 months

A closer look at some regions

Halifax

277,000 people employed

Up 2.4% since December 2023

The number of jobs in Halifax grew by 2,400 (+0.9%) over the last 12 months. New job growth this year is entirely due to new full-time employment. The labour force (those working or looking for work) increased by 2,100 (+0.7%) compared to a year ago. The region's unemployment rate declined to 4.8% in February from 4.9% the same month the year prior. What else is happening in this region?

Cape Breton

57,200 people employed

Up 14.2% since December 2023

Employment in Cape Breton rose over the last year, as the number of jobs was up by 4,800 (+9.1%). Both full-time and part time employment grew over the last year. The labour force (those working or looking for work) increased by 5,500 (+9.1%) compared to a year ago. The region's unemployment rate inclined to 12.2% in February from 12.1% the same month the year prior. What else is happening in this region?

Southern

49,700 people employed

Down -2.5% since December 2023

The number of jobs in Southern was up by a modest 300 (+0.6%) over the last 12 months. New job growth this year is entirely due to new full-time employment. The labour force (those working or looking for work) shrunk by 300 (-0.5%) compared to a year ago. The region's unemployment rate fell to 7.0% in February from 8.0% the same month the year prior. What else is happening in this region?

Last data refresh: 2025-03-21 23:00:30

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