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November 19, 2025BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, SEPTEMBER 2025 Monthly (September 2025 vs August 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Investment in Nova Scotia building construction grew 1.1% in September 2025 to $587.3 million. Halifax monthly building construction was up 7.9% to $357.5 million while outside of Halifax building construction was down 7.9% to $229.8 million. Nationally, investment in building construction fell 1.1% despite gains in six provinces. Prince Edward Island reported the largest gain in building construction investment, while Alberta had the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's September 2025 residential construction investment rose 1.6% to $461.6 million. Halifax residential construction was up 10.3% to $292.7 million. Outside of Halifax residential construction was down 10.5% to $168.9 million. National residential construction decreased by 1.7%, despite gains in six provinces. Prince Edward Island had the largest gain while Alberta reported the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's non-residential building construction fell 0.7% to $125.7 million. In Halifax, non-residential construction was down 1.6% to $64.8 million. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was up 0.3% to $60.9 million. National non-residential building construction edged up 0.05% in September 2025 with increases in five provinces. Manitoba reported the largest gain while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the fastest decline.
Year-to-date (January-September 2025 vs January-September 2024)
Compared to January-September 2024, building construction investment was up 12.2% in Nova Scotia. Halifax construction activity was up 16.5% and outside of Halifax construction activity was up 7.0%. National building construction investment was up 8.0%, with gains in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador, led by Prince Edward Island.
Residential construction investment was up 10.2% in Nova Scotia compared to January-September 2024. Halifax's residential construction was up 18.0% and outside of Halifax residential construction was up 1.2%. National residential construction was up 10.3% with gains in eight provinces. Prince Edward Island reported the fastest gain, while Newfoundland and Labrador experienced the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's non-residential construction was up 20.8% compared to January-September 2024, the fastest gain among provinces. Halifax's non-residential construction rose 11.0% while outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was up 35.2%. National non-residential construction investment increased 3.0% compared to January-September 2024, with gains in seven provinces. Québec reported the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's total building construction investment increased from $4,628 million in January- September 2024 to $5,193 million in January-September 2025. Residential investment as well as non-residential investment was up across the province.
Nova Scotia residential building construction investment growth was driven by an increase in multiple dwelling building construction across the province as well as a slight gain in single dwelling building construction across the province.
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 fastest increases in multiple dwelling units, industrial, and institutional/government investment. Outside of Halifax, building construction investment rose in all categories, with the fastest growth in institutional/government investment followed by commercial 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 and a gradual rising trend in single unit dwelling investments in recent months. 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
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