The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
August 19, 2025BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, JUNE 2025 Monthly (June 2025 vs May 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Investment in Nova Scotia building construction rose 3.7% in June 2025 to $611.1 million the second largest gain among provinces. Halifax monthly building construction was up 6.1% to $323.8 million while outside of Halifax building construction was up 1.0% to $287.3 million. Nationally, investment in building construction rose 2.0% with gains in seven provinces. Québec reported the largest gain in building construction investment, while New Brunswick had the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's June 2025 residential construction investment grew 4.9% to $486.0 million, the second largest gain among provinces. Halifax residential construction was up 8.6% to $256.1 million. Outside of Halifax residential construction was up 1.0% to $229.9 million. National residential construction increased by 3.1%, with gains in seven provinces. Québec had the largest gain while New Brunswick reported the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's non-residential building construction declined 0.7% to $125.2 million. In Halifax, non-residential construction was down 2.2% to $67.8 million. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was up 1.1% to $57.4 million. National non-residential building construction was down 0.5% in June 2025 with declines in seven provinces, led by Prince Edward Island. New Brunswick reported the largest gain.
Year-to-date (January-June 2025 vs January-June 2024)
Compared to January-June 2024, building construction investment was up 12.5% in Nova Scotia. Halifax construction activity was up 17.3% and outside of Halifax construction activity was up 6.9%. National building construction investment was up 8.3%, with gains in eight provinces led by Prince Edward Island. British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador reported declines.
Residential construction investment was up 10.4% in Nova Scotia compared to January-June 2024. Halifax's residential construction was up 17.6% and outside of Halifax residential construction was up 2.4%. National residential construction was up 10.3% with gains in seven provinces. Prince Edward Island reported the fastest gain, while Newfoundland and Labrador experienced the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's non-residential construction was up 21.4% compared to January-June 2024. Halifax's non-residential construction rose 16.2% while outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was up 28.7%. National non-residential construction investment increased 3.9% compared to January-June 2024. All provinces reported gains except Québec. Prince Edward Island reported the fastest gain.
Nova Scotia's total building construction investment increased from $3,065 million in January-June 2024 to $3,448 million in January-June 2025. Residential investment as well as non-residential investment were up across the province.
Nova Scotia residential building construction investment growth was driven by an increase in multiple dwelling building construction across the province, more than offsetting a slight decline in single dwelling building construction in Halifax.
Non-residential building construction investment was up in all categories. The largest increases were in institutional and government building construction investment.
All categories of building construction investment increased in Halifax with the exception of single dwelling units, with the fastest increases in multiple dwelling units and institutional/government investment. In the rest of Nova Scotia residential building construction investment rose in all categories, with the fastest growth in institutional/government investment.
Trends
Building construction has trended up over recent years, particularly from rising residential investment. Residential investment (and therefore total investment) exhibits peaks and troughs around a rising trend. Non-residential investment has been on a more gradual increasing trend.
In Halifax, residential construction investment had trended up for multi-unit dwellings since late 2024. However, single unit dwelling investments have peaked. Outside the city, investment in single dwelling unit construction is typically higher than for multi-unit structures. In Halifax, multiple dwelling unit buildings are a larger share of investment than single dwelling units.
Non-residential building construction has lower values than residential construction.
Halifax commercial and institutional/government building construction have plateaued and declined in recent months, while industrial projects continue to grow. Outside the city, non-residential investment levels continue to grow on rising institutional/government and commercial building investments.
Statistics Canada. Table 34-10-0293-01 Investment in Building Construction
<--- Return to Archive
