Nova Scotia Labour Force Survey
Nova Scotia Labour Force Update November 2018
Labour force
492,500 in November 2018
495,500 in October 2018
492,600 in November 2017
-0.6% change October 2018 - November 2018
0.0% change November 2017 - November 2018
Nova Scotia's labour force (individuals employed or looking for work) decreased by 3,000 (-0.6) in November compared to last month. Compared to a year ago the labour force remained virtually unchanged.
In the past twelve months, both youth (aged 15-24 years) and core-aged workers (aged 25-54 years) experienced an expanding labour force. This expansion, however, was fully offset by the shrinking labour force of older workers (aged 55 and over).
Employment
457,700 in November 2018
457,500 in October 2018
449,700 in November 2017
0.0% change October 2018 - November 2018
1.8% change November 2017 - November 2018
In the last month, employment remained the same at 457,700 while unemployment decreased by 3,400 (-8.9%) compared to October. Compared to a year ago, employment increased by 8,000 (+1.8%).
All youth, core aged, and older workers experienced employment expansion in the last twelve months. Specifically, the employment of youth workers increased by 4,800 (+8.5%).
The sectoral decomposition showed that both the goods sector and the service sector experienced employment expansion by 3,800 (+4.7%) and 4,200 (+1.1%) compared to twelve months ago. Construction and accommodation and food service industries contributed most to the expansion of their respective sectors.
Employment full-time
377,200 in November 2018
373,500 in October 2018
366,400 in November 2017
1.0% change October 2018 - November 2018
2.9% change November 2017 - November 2018
Full-time employment has increased by 10,800 (+2.9%), which was partially offset by the 2,800 (-3.4%) decrease in part-time employment in the past twelve months.
Employment part-time
80,500 in November 2018
84,000 in October 2018
83,300 in November 2017
-4.2% change October 2018 - November 2018
-3.4% change November 2017 - November 2018
Unemployment
34,700 in November 2018
38,100 in October 2018
42,900 in November 2017
-8.9% change October 2018 - November 2018
-19.1% change November 2017 - November 2018
Unemployment Rate
7.0% in November 2018
7.7% in October 2018
8.7% in November 2017
-0.7 percentage point change October 2018 - November 2018
-1.7 percentage point change November 2017 - November 2018
The unemployment rate was 7.0%, down by 0.7 percentage points from October. Compared to a year ago, the unemployment rate was down by 1.7. percentage points and unemployment decreased by 8,200 (-19.1%).
Participation Rate
61.4% in November 2018
61.8% in October 2018
62.0% in November 2017
-0.4 percentage point change October 2018 - November 2018
-0.6 percentage point change November 2017 - November 2018
Employment Rate
57.1% in November 2018
57.1% in October 2018
56.6% in November 2017
0.0 percentage point change October 2018 - November 2018
0.5 percentage point change November 2017 - November 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.
Nova Scotia Labour Force Annual Update
Labour force
490,100 in Jan-Dec 2017
486,600 in Jan-Dec 2016
0.7% change
In 2017, Nova Scotia’s labour force increased by 3,500 (+0.7%) compared to 2016.
Employment
449,000 in Jan-Dec 2017
446,200 in Jan-Dec 2016
0.6% change
Overall employment increased by 2,800 (+0.6%), mainly spurred by the 2,400 (+2.9%) increase in the part-time employment.
Employment full-time
364,100 in Jan-Dec 2017
363,700 in Jan-Dec 2016
0.1% change
Employment part-time
84,900 in Jan-Dec 2017
82,500 in Jan-Dec 2016
2.9% change
Unemployment
41,000 in Jan-Dec 2017
40,400 in Jan-Dec 2016
1.5% change
Unemployment increased by 600 (+1.5%) as the labour market was not able to fully absorb the increase in labour supply. As a result, the unemployment rate rose from 8.3% in 2016 to 8.4% in 2017.
Unemployment Rate
8.4% in Jan-Dec 2017
8.3% in Jan-Dec 2016
0.1 percentage point change
Participation Rate
61.8% in Jan-Dec 2017
61.7% in Jan-Dec 2016
0.1 percentage point change
Youth (aged 15-24), core-aged workers (aged 25-54) and older workers (aged 55 and over) became more active in the labour market compared to a year ago. However, their impact on the participation rate is mostly offset by the aging labour force where older workers have a lower participation rate. As a result, the participation rate increased marginally by 0.1 point.
Employment Rate
56.7% in Jan-Dec 2017
56.6% in Jan-Dec 2016
0.1 percentage point change
The proportion of the working age population that is employed increased slightly by 0.1 points from 56.6% in 2016 to 56.7% in 2017.
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.