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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

February 06, 2026
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, JANUARY 2026

                              

MONTH OVER MONTH (January 2026 vs December 2025, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force increased 3,200 (+0.6%) to 563,500
• Employment increased 500 (+0.1%) to 524,700
• The number of unemployed persons increased 2,700 (+7.5%) to 38,800
• The unemployment rate increased 0.5 percentage points to 6.9%

In Canada, 

• The labour force decreased 119,000 (-0.5%) to 22,578,700
• Employment decreased 24,800 (-0.1%) to 21,121,200
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 94,200 (-6.1%) to 1,457,500
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.3 percentage points to 6.5%

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

• The labour force increased 700 (+0.2%) to 312,600
• Employment increased 700 (+0.2%) to 294,600
• The number of unemployed persons increased 100 (+0.6%) to 18,000
• The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 5.8%

YEAR OVER YEAR (January 2026 vs January 2025)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force increased 3,200 (+0.6%)
• Employment decreased 1,600 (-0.3%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 4,800 (+14.1%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.8 percentage points

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 96,500 (+0.4%)
• Employment increased 134,300 (+0.6%)
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 37,800 (-2.5%)
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points

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

• The labour force increased 5,500 (+1.8%)
• Employment increased 3,400 (+1.2%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 2,100 (+13.2%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.6 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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