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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

Katherine Ryan	A/Director – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410	Email: Katherine.Ryan@novascotia.ca

September 04, 2026
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, AUGUST 2026

                              

MONTH OVER MONTH (August 2026 vs July 2026, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia, 

• The labour force increased 2,100 (+0.4%) to 575,700
• Employment increased 2,600 (+0.5%) to 540,500
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 400 (-1.1%) to 35,300
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 6.1%

In Canada, 

• The labour force decreased 36,800 (-0.2%) to 22,632,600
• Employment decreased 41,700 (-0.2%) to 21,173,100
• The number of unemployed persons increased 4,800 (+0.3%) to 1,459,500
• The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.4%

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

• The labour force increased 1,200 (+0.4%) to 315,400
• Employment increased 1,500 (+0.5%) to 297,900
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 400 (-2.2%) to 17,400
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 5.5%

 
YEAR OVER YEAR (August 2026 vs August 2025)

In Nova Scotia, 

• The labour force increased 15,400 (+2.7%)
• Employment increased 16,600 (+3.2%)
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 1,100 (-3.0%)
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.4 percentage points

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 86,000 (+0.4%)
• Employment increased 216,500 (+1.0%)
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 130,600 (-8.2%)
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.7 percentage points

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

• The labour force increased 3,800 (+1.2%)
• Employment increased 3,900 (+1.3%)
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 300 (-1.7%)
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.2 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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