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September 24, 2026JOB VACANCIES, JULY 2026 Monthly (July vs June 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia had 13,340 job vacancies in July 2026, up 3.4% (+440 vacancies) from June 2026.
Canadian employers were actively recruiting for 501,035 positions in July with the national job vacancy rate of 2.8%, unchanged from last month. Among provinces that reported vacancy data (Prince Edward Island's was suppressed this month), two reported lower vacancy rates, two were unchanged, and five increased compared to June. The highest vacancy rates were reported in Alberta and Manitoba, while the lowest was in Newfoundland in Labrador.
National job vacancies decreased 1.2% (-5,950 vacant positions). Job vacancies fell in two provinces, led by Québec. Manitboa reported the fastest rise in vacant positions.
Year-over-year (July 2026 vs July 2025)
Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate fell 0.4 percentage points compared to one year ago. Nationally, the job vacancy rate did not change compared to July 2025.
Four provinces reported lower job vacancy rates, with the fastest percentage point decline reported in Nova Scotia. The fastest increase in job vacancy rate was reported in Manitoba.
When compared to July 2025, the number of job vacancies in Nova Scotia fell 11.8% or by 1,780 vacancies. National job vacancies increased 1.1% or by 5,590 vacant positions. Four provinces reported declines in the number of vacancies over the twelve-month period ending in July, led by Nova Scotia. Manitoba reported the fastest rise in job vacancies.
Trend
Nationally, job vacancy rates have trended downward after peaking in the spring of 2022 and have been unchanged from 2.8% since December 2025.
Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate peaked in the spring of 2022 and has also been on a downward trend. Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate has fluctuated in a narrow band around 3.0%.
In June 2026 Nova Scotia’s job vacancy rate fell below the national average for the first time since October 2024 and has been its lowest rate recorded since August 2018.
Nova Scotia's job vacancies peaked at 22,585 in July 2022 and subsequently trended down and stabilized in the middle of 2024. There was an increase in Nova Scotia job vacancies through the summer of 2025, followed by a decrease in the autumn months.
Canada job vacancy rate and job vacancies by industry, July 2026
Nationally, accommodation/food services, personal/repair services, and admin/support/waste management had the highest job vacancy rates. The lowest vacancy rates were in education, utilities, and management of companies. Personal/repair services reported the largest percentage point declines in the vacancy rate. Mining, quarrying, oil and gas reported the highest percentage point increases compared to a year ago.
Health care and social assistance had the highest number of vacancies in Canada at 89,550 in July 2026 and also experienced the largest decline of 4,975.
Notes: The job vacancy rate is the percentage of job positions (both filled and vacant) that are vacant. A higher job vacancy rate indicates a tighter labour market where it is more difficult for employers to find suitable candidates for the positions offered. A lower job vacancy rate signals labour market slack and potentially more job seekers competing for each vacant position.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection was suspended from June to October 2020. There remains a break in this data series.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0432-01 Job vacancies, payroll employees, and job vacancy rate by provinces and territories, monthly, adjusted for seasonality, Table 14-10-0406-01 Job vacancies, payroll employees, and job vacancy rate by industry sector, monthly, adjusted for seasonality
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