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:
February 27, 2025JOB VACANCIES, DECEMBER 2024 Monthly (December 2024 vs November 2024 vs, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia had 14,685 job vacancies in December 2024 with a vacancy rate of 3.2%. Nova Scotia's vacancy rate was up from 2.8% in November. Canadian employers were actively recruiting for 536,095 positions in December with a vacancy rate of 3.0%. The national job vacancy rate was up from 2.9% in November 2024. Seven provinces reported higher vacancy rates from the previous month. The highest vacancy rate was reported in Prince Edward Island, while the lowest vacancy rate was reported in Ontario.
When compared to November 2024, the number of job vacancies in Nova Scotia rose 12.8% (+1,665 jobs). National job vacancies rose 3.0% (+15,460 jobs). Job vacancies rose in eight provinces with the fastest increase in Prince Edward Island. Only Ontario and British Columbia reported lower vacancies compared to November.
Year-over-year (December 2024 vs December 2023)
When compared to December 2023, the job vacancy rate in Nova Scotia declined 0.3 percentage points. Nationally, the job vacancy rate declined from 3.6% to 3.0%. All provinces except Prince Edward Island reported lower job vacancy rates compared to one year ago.
When compared to December 2023, the number of job vacancies in Nova Scotia declined 9.2% or 1,495 vacancies. National job vacancies declined 15.5% or 98,135 vacant jobs. All provinces except Prince Edward Island saw declines in the number of vacancies over the twelve-month period ending in December. In percentage terms, British Columbia declined the most compared to December 2023, and Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador the least.
Trend
Nationally, job vacancy rates have trended downward after peaking in March-May 2022.
Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate peaked in the spring of 2022 and has also been on a downward trend. The Nova Scotia job vacancy rate has been below the national rate for most of this period.
Nova Scotia's job vacancies peaked at 22,715 in June 2022 and have been trending down. Job vacancies have declined at a slower pace in 2024, with a notable increase this month.
Canada job vacancy rate and job vacancies by industry, December 2024
Nationally, health care/social assistance, accommodation/food services, and personal/repair services had the highest job vacancy rates. The lowest vacancy rates were in utilities and education.
Health care and social assistance had the highest number of vacancies at 107,290 in December 2024. Compared to December 2023, the number of vacancies declined in every industry except finance/insurance, professional/technical services and management of companies.
Notes: The job vacancy rate is the percentage of job positions (both filled and vacant) that are vacant. A higher job vacancy rate indicates a tighter labour market where it is more difficult for employers to find suitable candidates for the positions offered. A lower job vacancy rate signals labour market slack and potentially more job seekers competing for each vacant position.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection was suspended from April to October 2020. There remains a break in this data series.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0432-01 Job vacancies, payroll employees, and job vacancy rate by provinces and territories, monthly, adjusted for seasonality, Table 14-10-0406-01 Job vacancies, payroll employees, and job vacancy rate by industry sector, monthly, adjusted for seasonality
<--- Return to Archive
