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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

Thomas Storring	Director – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410	Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

January 09, 2026
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, DECEMBER 2025

                              

MONTH OVER MONTH (December 2025 vs November 2025, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force decreased 700 (-0.1%) to 560,300
• Employment increased 300 (+0.1%) to 523,900
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 1,000 (-2.7%) to 36,400
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 6.5%

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 81,000 (+0.4%) to 22,694,400
• Employment increased 8,200 (+0.04%) to 21,143,700
• The number of unemployed persons increased 72,900 (+4.9%) to 1,550,700
• The unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 6.8%

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

• The labour force increased 800 (+0.3%) to 312,000
• Employment increased 300 (+0.1%) to 293,900
• The number of unemployed persons increased 500 (+2.8%) to 18,100
• The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 5.8%

YEAR OVER YEAR (December 2025 vs December 2024)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force decreased 2,800 (-0.5%)
• Employment decreased 3,800 (-0.7%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 1,000 (+2.8%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 271,600 (+1.2%)
• Employment increased 226,300 (+1.1%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 45,200 (+3.0%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points

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

• The labour force increased 5,800 (+1.9%)
• Employment increased 3,400 (+1.2%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 2,500 (+16.0%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.7 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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