Job Vacancy & Wage Survey

Job Vacancy & Wage Survey, 4th Quarter in 2021: Nova Scotia Highlights

Despite there typically being more slack in the labour market in the winter months (job vacancy data is unadjusted for seasonality), Nova Scotia’s job vacancy rate rose to 4.8% (20,330 job vacancies) in the final quarter of 2021. Q4 2021’s vacancy rate is higher than the pre-COVID 2.8% rate (11,850 vacancies) in Q4 2019.

 

Includes an arrow topper box that has the text 20,330 vacancies in 2021 Q4. The arrow points to three blue pie charts below it. The first pie chart breaks down regions: Halifax = 10430, 51%. Cape Breton = 2010, 10%. North Shore = 3255, 16%. Annapolis Valley = 2265, 11%. Southern = 2370, 12%. The second pie chart covers education level: University certificate degree = 2740, 13%. Non-university certificate or diploma = 4580, 23%. No minimum level of education = 7655, 38%. High school diploma = 5345, 26%. The third pie chart covers job status: permanent = 17235, 85%. Temporary = 1385, 7%. Seasonal = 1710, 8%.

 

  • Job vacancies in 2021 Q4 in Nova Scotia increased by 2,170 (+11.9%) compared to last quarter.

  • The average offered hourly wage is $19.60, down $0.05 compared to last quarter.

    • During the last quarter, the Southern economic region (+9.7%), the Annapolis valley region (+2.3%), and the Cape Breton region (+1.6%) showed higher wages for their vacant positions. Vacant positions in the North Shore region (-0.3%) and in the Halifax region were lower waged (-0.3% and -3.7%, respectively).

 

This image consists of two charts addressing wages. The chart on the left consists of vertical blue bars showing wage by region. Cape Breton = $18.75. North Shore = $17.75. Annapolis Valley = $17.80. Southern = $18.60. Halifax = $20.95. The chart on the right consists of horizontal blue bars indicating level of education. Starting at the top, Masters or above = $42.20. Bachelor’s degree = $34.05. University diploma below bachelor’s = $28.00. Non-university certificate = $21.75. High school diploma = $16.85. No level required = $15.25.

 

  • The job vacancy rate, the number of job vacancies expressed as a percentage of labour demand (the sum of occupied and vacant jobs), rose by 0.5 percentage points in 2021 Q4 to 4.8%.

 

This image is a table titled Nova Scotia Job Vacancy & Wage Rate Update, 2021 Q4. Column headings are Job Vacancy & Wage Rate, Q2 2021, Q3 2021, Q4 2021, Q/Q % Change, Y/Y % Change. Job Vacancies = Q22021 15,355, Q32021 18,160, Q42021 20,330. Q/Q % Change +11.9%. Y/Y % Change +56.1%. Payroll employees = Q22021 385,710, Q32021 400,590, Q42021 403,930, Q/Q % Change +0.8%. Y/Y % Change +4.5%. Job Vacancy Rate = Q22021 3.8%, Q32021 4.3%, Q42021 4.8%, Q/Q % Change 0.5 pts, Y/Y Change +1.5 pts. Average offered hourly wage = Q22021 $19.65, Q32021 $19.65, Q42021 $19.60, Q/Q % Change -0.3%, Y/Y % Change -1.5%.

Source: Source: Statistics Canada, Job Vacancy & Wage Survey, Table 14-10-0325-01, Unadjusted for Seasonality. 

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