Nova Scotia Labour Force Survey
Nova Scotia Labour Force Update July 2019
Labour force
498,900 in July 2019
501,300 in June 2019
493,200 in July 2018
-0.5% change June 2019 - July 2019
1.2% change July 2018 - July 2019
Nova Scotia's labour force (individuals employed or looking for work) decreased by 2,400 (-0.5%) between June and July. Compared to a year ago, the labour force increased by 5,700 (+1.2%).
In the past twelve months, youth (aged 15-24 years), core-aged (25-54 years), and older workers (aged 55 and over) have all contributed to the labour force expansion.
Employment
462,200 in July 2019
468,400 in June 2019
453,800 in July 2018
-1.3% change June 2019 - July 2019
1.9% change July 2018 - July 2019
In the last month, employment decreased by 6,200 (-1.3%), while unemployment increased by 3,800 (+11.6%). Compared to a year ago, employment increased by 8,400 (+1.9%).
In the last twelve months, youth employment increased by 900 (+1.5%) due to rising part-time opportunities. The 5,700 (+2.0%) increase in core-aged employment, on the other hand, can be attributed to full-time jobs. Older workers' employment rose by 1,700 (+1.6%) compared to twelve months ago.
The sectoral decomposition shows that both the goods sector and service sector saw employment gains during the last twelve months; goods by 1,500 (+1.8%) and services by 6,900 (+1.9%). Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services, and Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas were the top three contributors.
Employment full-time
377,500 in July 2019
378,700 in June 2019
372,000 in July 2018
-0.3% change June 2019 - July 2019
1.5% change July 2018 - July 2019
Two-thirds of the employment expansion in the past twelve months can be attributed to full-time employment (5,500, +1.5%).
Employment part-time
84,700 in July 2019
89,700 in June 2019
81,800 in July 2018
-5.6% change June 2019 - July 2019
3.5% change July 2018 - July 2019
Unemployment
36,700 in July 2019
32,900 in June 2019
39,300 in July 2018
11.6% change June 2019 - July 2019
-6.6% change July 2018 - July 2019
Unemployment Rate
7.4% in July 2019
6.6% in June 2019
8.0% in July 2018
0.8 percentage point change June 2019 - July 2019
-0.6 percentage point change July 2018 - July 2019
The monthly unemployment rate was 7.4%, up by 0.8 percentage points from June. Compared to a year ago, the unemployment rate was down by 0.6 percentage points.
Participation Rate
61.8% in July 2019
62.2% in June 2019
61.8% in July 2018
-0.4 percentage point change June 2019 - July 2019
0.0 percentage point change July 2018 - July 2019
In the past twelve months the labour force growth rate was on par with the population growth rate, thus the participation rate remained at 61.8%.
Employment Rate
57.2% in July 2019
58.1% in June 2019
56.8% in July 2018
-0.9 percentage point change June 2019 - July 2019
0.4 percentage point change July 2018 - July 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.