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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

Thomas Storring	Director – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410	Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

June 06, 2025
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, MAY 2025

                                                    

MONTH OVER MONTH (May 2025 vs April 2025, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force increased 7,400 (+1.3%) to 563,900
• Employment increased 10,600 (+2.1%) to 527,000
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 3,200 (-8.0%) to 36,900
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.7 percentage points to 6.5%

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 35,300 (+0.2%) to 22,552,700
• Employment increased 8,800 (+0.04%) to 20,978,100
• The number of unemployed persons increased 26,500 (+1.7%) to 1,574,600
• The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 7.0%

In Halifax and East Hants Census Metropolitan Area,  (3-month moving average) 

• The labour force increased 1,100 (+0.4%) to 312,100
• Employment increased 800 (+0.3%) to 294,500
• The number of unemployed persons increased 300 (+1.7%) to 17,600
• The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.6%

YEAR OVER YEAR (May 2025 vs May 2024)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force increased 7,600 (+1.4%)
• Employment increased 7,100 (+1.4%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 600 (+1.7%)
• The unemployment rate was unchanged

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 470,800 (+2.1%)
• Employment increased 279,800 (+1.4%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 190,900 (+13.8%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.7 percentage points

In Halifax and East Hants Census Metropolitan Area,  (3-month moving average) 

• The labour force increased 1,900 (+0.6%)
• Employment increased 1,500 (+0.5%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 400 (+2.3%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0287-01  Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months; Table 14-10-0459-01  Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted

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