Nova Scotia Labour Force Survey
Nova Scotia Labour Force Update January 2019
Labour force
499,200 in January 2019
493,800 in December 2018
493,900 in January 2018
1.1% change December 2018 - January 2019
1.1% change January 2018 - January 2019
Nova Scotia's labour force (individuals employed or looking for work) increased by 5,400 (+1.1%) between December and January. Compared to a year ago, the labour force increased by 5,300 (1.1%).
In the past twelve months, both youth (aged 15-24 years) and older workers (aged 55 and over) experienced labour force expansion by 4,000 (+5.7%) and 2,800 (+2.4%) respectively. This expansion was partially offset by the shrinking labour force of core-aged workers.
Employment
465,100 in January 2019
459,000 in December 2018
453,500 in January 2018
1.3% change December 2018 - January 2019
2.6% change January 2018 - January 2019
In the last month, employment increased by 6,100 (+1.3%) to 459,100 while unemployment decreased by 600 (-1.7%) compared to December. Compared to a year ago, employment increased by 11,600 (+2.6%).
Youth experienced employment expansion in the last twelve months by 6,800 (+11.9%) and the emloyment of older workers also increased by 4,100 (3.8%).
The sectoral decomposition showed that the year-to-year employment expansion can be mostly attributed to the service-sector, which experienced employment expansion by 10,300 (+2.8%). Wholesale and retail trade, and accommodation and food services, and information, culture and recreation industries contributed the most to the expansion of service sectors.
Employment full-time
381,600 in January 2019
378,000 in December 2018
371,500 in January 2018
1.0% change December 2018 - January 2019
2.7% change January 2018 - January 2019
Employment part-time
84,400 in January 2019
81,000 in December 2018
82,000 in January 2018
3.0% change December 2018 - January 2019
1.7% change January 2018 - January 2019
The employment expansion in the last twelve months was mostly driven by the expansion of full-time employment (+10,100, +2.7%). Part-time employment also increased by 1,400 (1.7%) during the same period.
Unemployment
34,200 in January 2019
34,800 in December 2018
40,400 in January 2018
-1.7% change December 2018 - January 2019
-15.3% change January 2018 - January 2019
Unemployment Rate
6.9% in January 2019
7.0% in December 2018
8.2% in January 2018
-0.1 percentage point change December 2018 - January 2019
-1.3 percentage point change January 2018 - January 2019
The unemployment rate was 6.9%, down by 0.1 percentage points from December. Compared to a year ago, the unemployment rate was down by 1.3 percentage points and unemployment decreased by 6,200 (-15.#%).
Participation Rate
62.2% in January 2019
61.5% in December 2018
62.1% in January 2018
0.7 percentage point change December 2018 - January 2019
0.1 percentage point change January 2018 - January 2019
Employment Rate
57.9% in January 2019
57.2% in December 2018
57.0% in January 2018
0.7 percentage point change December 2018 - January 2019
0.9 percentage point change January 2018 - January 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.