Nova Scotia Labour Force Survey
Nova Scotia Labour Force Update March 2019
Labour force
497,200 in March 2019
498,500 in February 2019
491,100 in March 2018
-0.3% change February 2019 - March 2019
1.2% change March 2018 - March 2019
Nova Scotia's labour force (individuals employed or looking for work) decreased marginally by 1,300 (-0.3%) between February and March. Compared to a year ago the labour force increased by 6,100 (+1.2%).
In the past twelve months, both youth (aged 15-24 years) and older workers (aged 55 and over) experienced labour force expansion by 3,100 (+4.5%) and 4,200 (+3.7%) respectively. This expansion was partially offset by the shrinking labour force of core-aged workers (-1,300, -0.4%).
Employment
466,500 in March 2019
466,500 in February 2019
454,700 in March 2018
0.0% change February 2019 - March 2019
2.6% change March 2018 - March 2019
In the last month, employment remained at 466,500, while unemployment decreased by 1,400 (-4.4%) compared to February. Compared to a year ago, employment increased by 11,800 (+2.6%).
All youth, core-aged (aged 25-54), and older workers experienced employment expansion in the last twelve months. Youth employment particularly increased by 5,000 (+8.5%).
The sectoral decomposition showed that both the goods sector and service sector contributed to the employment expansion during the past twelve months by 4,600 (+5.5%) and 7,300 (+2.0%). Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, and Health care and social assistance are the top three contributors.
Employment full-time
378,900 in March 2019
382,700 in February 2019
374,900 in March 2018
-1.0% change February 2019 - March 2019
1.1% change March 2018 - March 2019
Employment part-time
87,700 in March 2019
83,800 in February 2019
79,800 in March 2018
4.7% change February 2019 - March 2019
9.9% change March 2018 - March 2019
The employment expansion in the last twelve months was mostly driven by the expansion of part-time employment (+7,900, +9.9%). Full-time employment also increased by 4,000 (+1.1%) during the same period.
Unemployment
30,700 in March 2019
32,100 in February 2019
36,400 in March 2018
-4.4% change February 2019 - March 2019
-15.7% change March 2018 - March 2019
Unemployment Rate
6.2% in March 2019
6.4% in February 2019
7.4% in March 2018
-0.2 percentage point change February 2019 - March 2019
-1.2 percentage point change March 2018 - March 2019
The unemployment rate was 6.2%, down by 0.2 percentage points from February. Compared to a year ago, the unemployment rate was down by 1.2 percentage points. This marks another all-time low since the inception of the modern Labour Force Survey in 1976.
Participation Rate
61.9% in March 2019
62.0% in February 2019
61.6% in March 2018
-0.1 percentage point change February 2019 - March 2019
0.3 percentage point change March 2018 - March 2019
Employment Rate
58.0% in March 2019
58.1% in February 2019
57.1% in March 2018
-0.1 percentage point change February 2019 - March 2019
0.3 percentage point change March 2018 - March 2019
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM 282-0002 Seasonally Adjusted, Both Sexes, Ages 15+
Note: The sum of individual categories may not always add up to the total as a result of rounding.
Nova Scotia Labour Force Annual Update
Labour force
493,100 in Jan-Dec 2018
490,100 in Jan-Dec 2017
0.6% change
In 2018, the labour force increased by 3,000 (+0.6%) compared to 2017.
Employment
455,900 in Jan-Dec 2018
449,000 in Jan-Dec 2017
1.5% change
Overall employment increased by 6,900 (+1.5%), spurred by the 11,100 (+3.0%) increase in full-time employment.
Youth (aged 15-24), core-aged workers (aged 25-54) and older workers (aged 55 and over) experienced employment expansion.
Employment full-time
375,200 in Jan-Dec 2018
364,100 in Jan-Dec 2017
3.0% change
Employment part-time
80,600 in Jan-Dec 2018
84,900 in Jan-Dec 2017
-5.1% change
Unemployment
37,200 in Jan-Dec 2018
41,000 in Jan-Dec 2017
-9.3% change
Unemployment decreased by 3,800 (-9.3%) as employment expanded faster than the labour force. As a result, the unemployment rate decreased from 8.4% in 2017 to 7.5% in 2018.
Unemployment Rate
7.5% in Jan-Dec 2018
8.4% in Jan-Dec 2017
-0.9 percentage point change
Participation Rate
61.7% in Jan-Dec 2018
61.8% in Jan-Dec 2017
-0.1 percentage point change
Employment Rate
57.1% in Jan-Dec 2018
56.7% in Jan-Dec 2017
0.4 percentage point change
As the employment expansion outpaced the population expansion, the employment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points to 57.1% in 2018.
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM 282-0002 Seasonally Adjusted, Both Sexes, Ages 15+
Note: The sum of individual categories may not always add up to the total as a result of rounding.