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April 04, 2025LABOUR MARKET TRENDS, MARCH 2025 March labour force survey results reflect the period from March 9 to 15, 2025.
Ages 15+ (March 2025 vs February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employment rose by 2,000 (+0.4%) to 524,900 in March following a decline of 4,300 (-0.8%) in the previous month.
The change in employment was largely attributable to an increase in part-time employment (+1,800) and a smaller gain in full-time employment (+200). Note that changes in full-time and part-time employment can also reflect changing hours for the same job.
Nova Scotia’s labour force fell by 1,100 (-0.2%) to 558,900 in March 2025.
With employment rising and labour force falling, Nova Scotia's unemployment rate declined 0.5 percentage points to 6.1% in March 2025.
Nova Scotia's labour force participation rate was down 0.2 percentage point to 61.3% and the employment rate was up 0.2 percentage points to 57.6% in March 2025.
Ages 15+ (March 2025 vs March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with March 2024, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 increased by 16,000 (+1.8%), while the labour force declined by 1,300 (-0.2%), and employment grew by 900 (+0.2%). The unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points while the participation rate fell by 1.3 percentage points and the employment rate fell by 0.9 percentage points.
Ages 15+ (January-March 2025 vs January-March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with January-March 2024, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 increased by 17,200 (+1.9%), while the labour force grew by 600 (+0.1%), and employment increased by 2,300 (+0.4%). The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points, while the participation rate fell by 1.1 percentage points and the employment rate fell by 0.8 percentage points.
Note: Year-to-date estimates are calculated as averages of monthly data and rounded to the nearest tenth. Year-to-date changes in the table are also rounded to the nearest tenth.
Age Cohorts (March 2025 vs February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Among youth (ages 15-24), employment was down 300 (-0.4%) while the labour force fell by 600 (-0.8%). As employment fell slower than the labour force, the youth unemployment rate declined 0.3 percentage points to 11.6% in March 2025. The youth participation rate fell 0.4 percentage points to 63.8% while the youth employment rate was down 0.2 percentage points to 56.4%.
The population aged 25-54 makes up the largest part of the labour force. In the core age group, employment was up 2,700 (+0.8%) while the labour force rose by 100 (+0.03%). With employment rising faster than the labour force, the core aged unemployment rate fell 0.7 percentage points to 5.1% in March 2025. The core aged participation rate edged down 0.1 percentage point to 87.4% and the core aged employment rate was up 0.5 percentage points to 82.9%.
Among older workers (aged 55+) the labour force declined by 600 (-0.5%) while employment fell by 400 (-0.3%). With employment falling slower than labour force, the older worker unemployment rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 5.6%. The older worker participation rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 32.5% and the employment rate for older workers edged down 0.1 percentage point to 30.7%.
Males and Females (Ages 15+, March 2025 vs February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Monthly employment rose by 1,600 (+0.6%) for males while the labour force declined by 1,200 (-0.4%) from February. With employment rising on a smaller labour force, the male unemployment rate declined 0.9 percentage points to 6.6% in March. The male participation declined by 0.3 percentage points to 64.5%, while the employment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 60.3%.
Females reported an employment increase of 500 (+0.2%) and a labour force increase of 100 (+0.04%). With employment rising faster than labour force, the female unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage point to 5.6% in March. The female participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 58.2% and the female employment rate was unchanged at 55.0%.
March's growth in employment was due to growth among core-aged workers, partially offset by lower employment for youth and older workers. Males reported stronger employment growth than females, accounting for the majority of employment growth.
The decline in labour force was driven by a decline in younger and older workers, which was partially offset by an increase in core-aged workers. March's labour force decline was due to a decline in the male labour force, marginally offset by an increase among females.
Age and sex cohorts (March 2025 vs March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with March 2024, employment growth was concentrated among core-aged workers (whose population has also grown the most over this period). Youth and older workers had similar labour force losses compared to one year ago while youth experienced a slightly stronger employment loss compared to older workers. Both males and females report lower labour force compared to one year ago, with small increases in employment.
Age and sex cohorts (January-March 2025 vs January-March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with January-March 2024, labour force and employment growth was highest among core-aged workers (whose population is also growing more than others). Labour force growth lagged employment growth for core-aged workers. Older workers saw a smaller decline in employment than labour force, whereas youth reported greater employment declines compared to labour force. Core-aged and older workers saw declines in unemployment, while younger workers saw increasing unemployment levels. Population, labour force, and employment have increased more for males than females compared to January-March 2024.
Class of Worker and Industry (March 2025 vs February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
The March 2025 employment change was due to increase among public sector (+1,600, +1.1%) and private sector (+1,500, +0.5%) workers. Self employment declined by 1,100 (-2.0%) in March.
Classified by industry, the largest employment gains from February to March were in business support/call centres, personal/repair services, and forestry/fishing/mining. The largest declines were in wholesale/retail, construction, and accommodation/food services.
Class of Worker and Industry (March 2025 vs March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to March 2024, there were employment losses for private sector workers (-7,300 or -2.2%), with gains for public sector workers (+7,600 or +5.6%) and the self-employed (+600 or +1.1%).
Over the last 12 months, employment was up the most for construction, health/social assistance, transportation/warehousing and forestry/fishing/mining. The largest declines were in wholesale/retail, manufacturing, personal/repair services, and finance/insurance/real estate.
Class of Worker and Industry (January-March 2025 vs January-March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to January-March 2024, gains were strongest for public sector workers (+8,900 or +6.7%), with smaller gains in self employment (+200, +0.4%). There was a decline in private sector workers (-6,700 or -2.0%).
Gains in employment were strongest in construction, health care/social assistance, and accommodation/food services. The largest declines were in personal/repair services, wholesale/retail, finance/insurance/real estate and manufacturing.
Hours worked and employment (March 2025, unadjusted)
Compared to the provincial average, a larger share of workers in goods producing industries (except agriculture and utilities), as well as transportation/warehousing, finance/insurance/real estate, professional/technical services, business support/call centers, and personal/repair services worked more than 40 hours per week in March 2025.
Note that some data on those working few hours in utilities, forestry/fishing/mining and agriculture were suppressed.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, March 2025 vs March 2024)
Average weekly earnings increased by 6.8% from March 2024 to March 2025. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in information/culture/recreation, wholesale/retail, business support/call centres, and accommodation/food services. The largest declines in average weekly wages were in agriculture.
The increase in Nova Scotia's all items consumer price index was 2.1% from February 2024 to February 2025.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,183.72 in March 2025. The highest average weekly earnings (both full and part time employees) were reported in utilities, public administration, and professional/technical services. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services and agriculture.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, January-March 2025 vs January-March 2024)
Average weekly earnings increased 6.7% in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in information/culture/recreation, accommodation/food services, and wholesale/retail. Agriculture reported the fastest decline in average weekly earnings in January-March 2025.
Average weekly earnings in the first three months of 2025 were highest in utilities, professional/technical services, and public administration. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, and agriculture in January-March 2025.
Regions (March 2025 vs March 2024, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with March 2024, labour force increases were concentrated in Cape Breton and the North Shore, with smaller gains in Halifax. North Shore and Cape Breton labour force growth outpaced employment growth, resulting in higher unemployment, with falling unemployment rates in all other regions. Annapolis Valley and Southern Nova Scotia reported falling labour force compared to one year ago. Halifax saw the strongest population growth, and a large increase in the number of people not in the labour force.
Unemployment rates were up in Cape Breton and the North Shore, and down in Annapolis Valley, Southern Nova Scotia, and Halifax.
Participation and employment rates were up in Cape Breton and North Shore, and down in Annapolis Valley, Southern Nova Scotia and Halifax compared to one year ago.
Regions (January-March 2025 vs January-March 2024, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with January-March 2024, labour force increases were concentrated in Cape Breton and the North Shore, with smaller gains in Halifax. Cape Breton reported the largest contribution to employment growth for the period, followed by Halifax and North Shore regions. Declining labour force and employment in the Annapolis Valley and Southern regions have resulted in more people not in the labour force. Halifax saw the strongest population growth, and a large increase in the number of people not in the labour force.
Provincial Comparisons (seasonally adjusted)
Canada's labour force was up 0.02% from February with four provinces reporting growth in March 2025. Saskatchewan reported the fastest growth while the largest decline was in New Brunswick.
Compared with March 2024, the national labour force was up 2.3%, with every province except Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia reporting increases. Manitoba reported the fastest increase.
Canada's employment declined 0.2% in March 2025. Four provinces reported lower employment in March, led by Alberta, while Saskatchewan reported the strongest gain. Compared with March 2024, the national gain was 1.7% with the fastest growth in Saskatchewan. The only decline was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national unemployment rate was 6.7% in March 2025, up from 6.1% in March 2024. Saskatchewan had the lowest unemployment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest unemployment rate in March 2025.
The national participation rate was 65.2% in March 2025. The highest participation rate was in Alberta while the lowest was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national employment rate was 60.9% in March 2025. Saskatchewan reported the highest employment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.
Census Metropolitan Areas (March 2025, seasonally adjusted 3 month moving average)
The Halifax unemployment rate was 4.9% in the seasonally adjusted March 2025 three month moving average. Outside of Halifax the unemployment rate was 7.8%. In central and western provinces, unemployment rates in Census Metropolitan Areas are similar to or higher than unemployment rates outside CMAs. In the Atlantic Provinces unemployment rates are typically higher outside CMAs.
Halifax's participation rate was 68.2% in the seasonally adjusted March 2025 three month moving average, while participation rates were 54.8% across the rest of the province.
Halifax reported an employment rate of 64.8% in the seasonally adjusted March 2025 three month moving average, while the employment rate was 50.5% outside the city.
Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0036-01 Actual hours worked by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality; Table 14-10-0063-01 Employee wages by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality; Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months; Table 14-10-0380-01 Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0387-01 Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality, last 5 months; Table 14-10-0355-01 Employment by industry, monthly, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, and trend-cycle, last 5 months (x 1,000); Table 14-10-0288-01 Employment by class of worker, monthly, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months (x 1,000); Table: 14-10-0459-01 Labour force characteristics, three month moving average, seasonally adjusted (x 1,000)
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