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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

Katherine Ryan	A/Director – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410	Email: Katherine.Ryan@novascotia.ca

October 09, 2026
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, SEPTEMBER 2026

                              

MONTH OVER MONTH (September 2026 vs August 2026, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia, 

• The labour force increased 1,400 (+0.2%) to 577,100
• Employment increased 200 (+0.0%) to 540,700
• The number of unemployed persons increased 1,100 (+3.1%) to 36,400
• The unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 6.3%

In Canada, 

• The labour force decreased 52,900 (-0.2%) to 22,579,700
• Employment decreased 68,300 (-0.3%) to 21,104,800
• The number of unemployed persons increased 15,400 (+1.1%) to 1,474,900
• The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 6.5%

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

• The labour force increased 2,200 (+0.7%) to 317,600
• Employment increased 1,400 (+0.5%) to 299,300
• The number of unemployed persons increased 900 (+5.2%) to 18,300
• The unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 5.8%

 
YEAR OVER YEAR (September 2026 vs September 2025)

In Nova Scotia, 

• The labour force increased 17,700 (+3.2%)
• Employment increased 16,100 (+3.1%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 1,600 (+4.6%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points

In Canada, 

• The labour force decreased 26,300 (-0.1%)
• Employment increased 94,900 (+0.5%)
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 121,200 (-7.6%)
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.6 percentage points

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

• The labour force increased 5,700 (+1.8%)
• Employment increased 4,900 (+1.7%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 700 (+4.0%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.2 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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