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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

April 10, 2026
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, MARCH 2026

                              

MONTH OVER MONTH (March 2026 vs February 2026, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force increased 1,600 (+0.3%) to 565,500
• Employment increased 3,900 (+0.7%) to 528,000
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 2,400 (-6.0%) to 37,400
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage points to 6.6%

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 15,100 (+0.1%) to 22,566,600
• Employment increased 14,100 (+0.07%) to 21,051,400
• The number of unemployed persons increased 1,000 (+0.1%) to 1,515,200
• The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7%

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

• The labour force increased 1,400 (+0.4%) to 316,000
• Employment increased 1,300 (+0.4%) to 296,800
• The number of unemployed persons increased 100 (+0.5%) to 19,200
• The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.1%

YEAR OVER YEAR (March 2026 vs March 2025)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force increased 7,600 (+1.4%)
• Employment increased 4,500 (+0.9%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 3,100 (+9.0%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.5 percentage points

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 81,800 (+0.4%)
• Employment increased 87,100 (+0.4%)
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 5,400 (-0.4%)
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points

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

• The labour force increased 6,800 (+2.2%)
• Employment increased 3,300 (+1.1%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 3,500 (+22.3%)
• The unemployment rate increased 1.0 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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