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January 09, 2026LABOUR MARKET TRENDS, DECEMBER 2025 December labour force survey results reflect the period from December 7 to 13, 2025.
Ages 15+ (December 2025 vs November 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employment grew 300 (+0.1%) to 523,900 in December, following an increase of 2,600 (+0.5%) in the previous month.
The change in employment reflected an increase for part-time (+3,000), partially offset by lower full-time (-2,700) employment. 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 700 (-0.1%) to 560,300 in December 2025.
With employment rising on a smaller labour force, Nova Scotia's unemployment rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 6.5% in December 2025.
Nova Scotia's labour force participation rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 61.0% while the employment rate was unchanged at 57.1% in December 2025.
Ages 15+ (December 2025 vs December 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with December 2024, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 increased by 8,400 (+0.9%), while the labour force declined 2,800 (-0.5%), and employment decreased by 3,800 (-0.7%). Compared to December 2024, the unemployment rate was up by 0.2 percentage points, while the participation rate and the employment rate each declined by 0.9 percentage points.
Age Cohorts (December 2025 vs November 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Among youth (ages 15-24), employment declined by 2,500 (-3.7%), outpaced by labour force decline of 4,200 (-5.4%). The youth unemployment rate fell 1.5 percentage points to 12.4% in December 2025. The youth participation rate decreased 3.6 percentage points to 62.7% while the youth employment rate decreased 2.2 percentage points to 54.9%.
The population aged 25-54 makes up the largest part of the labour force. In the core age group, employment declined by 500 (-0.1%) while the labour force rose by 400 (+0.1%). With employment falling and the labour force rising, the core aged unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage point to 5.6% in December 2025. The core aged participation rate was unchanged at 85.7%, while the core aged employment rate was down 0.2 percentage point to 80.9%.
Among older workers (aged 55+) the labour force rose by 3,300 (+2.6%), equivalent to the rise in employment (3,300, +2.7%). With employment rising slightly faster than labour force, the older worker unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage point to 5.7%. The older worker participation rate and employment rate both rose 0.9 percentage points to 34.0% and 32.1%, respectively.
Males and Females (Ages 15+, December 2025 vs November 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Monthly employment rose by 3,600 (+1.3%) for males while the labour force contracted by 500 (-0.2%) from November. With employment rising on a smaller labour force, the male unemployment rate decreased by 1.3 percentage points to 6.8% in December. The male participation rate edged down 0.1 percentage point to 65.4%, while the male employment rate rose 0.8 percentage points to 61.0%.
Females reported an employment decreased of 3,300 (-1.3%) and a marginal labour force decline of 100 (-0.04%). With employment falling faster than the labour force, the female unemployment rate rose by 1.2 percentage points to 6.2% in December. The female participation rate was unchanged at 56.9% and the female employment rate fell by 0.8 percentage point to 53.3%.
December employment gain was entirely concentrated among males and older workers, partially offset by lower employment for youth and core-aged workers, and females. Labour force, employment and unemployment declines among youth resulted in a notable increase in those not in the labour force for this age group. Among older workers, gains in labour force and employment resulted in a notable decline in those not in the labour force (with no change in unemployment). Among males, the rise in employment was accompanied by a notable decline in unemployment, while the reverse was true for females - December's employment decline resulted in more females unemployed.
Age and gender cohorts (December 2025 vs December 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with December 2024, labour force and employment declines were concentrated among youth, core-aged workers and females. These groups also reported employment declines that outpaced that of the labour force, resulting in higher numbers of those not in the labour force and, to a smaller degree, in unemployment. Partially offsetting those employment and labour force declines were gains among older workers and males, reporting faster employment growth than labour force growth.
Class of Worker and Industry (December 2025 vs November 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Employment growth in December was due to growth for private sector (+2,600, +0.8%), partially offset by a lower number of public sector workers (-300, -0.2%), and self-employed (-1,900, -3.4%).
Classified by industry, the largest contributions to growth were among construction and transportation/warehousing. The largest declines in December were reported in professional/technical services, forestry/fishing/mining, followed by finance/insurance/real estate and business support/call centres.
Class of Worker and Industry (December 2025 vs December 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to December 2024, employment declined for private sector workers (-2,800, -0.8%), and public sector (-1,400, -1.0%), partially offset by higher self-employment (+500, +0.9%).
Over the last 12 months, employment grew the most in transportation/warehousing and personal/repair services, followed by health care/social assistance and wholesale/retail. Employment declined the most in accommodation/food services, followed by information/culture/recreation and education.
Hours worked and employment (December 2025, unadjusted)
Compared to the provincial average, a larger share of workers in goods producing industries (except utilities), transportation/warehousing, business support/call centres, and personal/repair services worked more than 40 hours per week in December 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, December 2025 vs December 2024)
Average weekly earnings increased by 5.9% from December 2024 to December 2025. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in finance/insurance/real estate, information/culture/recreation, and personal/repair services. The largest declines in average weekly wages were in forestry/fishing/mining, followed by agriculture.
The increase in Nova Scotia's all items consumer price index was 2.4% from November 2024 to November 2025.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,230.47 in December 2025. The highest average weekly earnings (both full and part time employees) were reported in professional/technical services, public administration, and finance/insurance/real estate. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail trade, and business support/call centres.
Regions (December 2025 vs December 2024, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with December 2024, labour force and employment growth was reported in Halifax and Southern Nova Scotia. Southern Nova Scotia reported labour force growth with no population growth, drawing from those not in the labour force. Halifax reported population and labour force gains that outpaced employment, resulting in a rise in both the unemployed and those not in the labour force. Cape Breton and Annapolis Valley reported labour force declines that outpaced employment declines, with fewer unemployed but notable rises in those not in the labour force. North Shore reported the smallest declines in labour force and employment, with population growth largely translating into those not in the labour force.
Unemployment rates rose in all regions except the Annapolis Valley compared to December 2024.
Participation rates rose in Southern Nova Scotia and Halifax, while they declined in Cape Breton, the Annapolis Valley and North Shore regions.
Employment rates were lower in all regions except Southern Nova Scotia compared to one year ago.
Provincial Comparisons (seasonally adjusted)
Canada's labour force rose 0.4% from November with five provinces reporting growth in December 2025. The fastest growth was in Ontario, while the fastest decline was in New Brunswick.
Compared with December 2024, the national labour force was up 1.2%, with every province except Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia reporting growth. Alberta reported the fastest increase while the fastest decline was in Prince Edward Island.
Canada's employment increased by 0.04% in December 2025. Five provinces reported higher employment in December led by Prince Edward Island. Saskatchewan reported the fastest decline compared to November.
Compared with December 2024, the national employment gain was 1.1% with all provinces reporting growth except Nova Scotia. The fastest growth was in Alberta.
The national unemployment rate was 6.8% in December 2025, up from 6.7% in December 2024. Québec had the lowest unemployment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest unemployment rate in December 2025.
The national participation rate was 65.4% in December 2025. The highest participation rate was in Alberta while the lowest was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national employment rate was 60.9% in December 2025. Alberta reported the highest employment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.
In unadjusted results, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings grew by 5.9% year-over-year, the fastest gain among provinces. National average weekly earnings were up 3.2% with the slowest growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan.
Census Metropolitan Areas (December 2025, seasonally adjusted 3 month moving average)
The Halifax & East Hants unemployment rate was 5.8% in the seasonally adjusted December 2025 three month moving average. Outside of Halifax & East Hants the unemployment rate was 7.7%. In central and western provinces, unemployment rates in Census Metropolitan Areas are similar to or higher than unemployment rates outside of CMAs. In the Atlantic Provinces unemployment rates are typically higher outside of CMAs.
Halifax & East Hant's participation rate was 67.9% in the seasonally adjusted December 2025 three month moving average, while participation rates were 54.2% across the rest of the province.
Halifax & East Hants reported an employment rate of 64.0% in the seasonally adjusted December 2025 three month moving average, while the employment rate was 50.0% 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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