The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
October 29, 2026JOB VACANCIES, AUGUST 2026 Monthly (August vs July 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia had 14.445 job vacancies in August 2026, up 7.0% (+945 vacancies) from July 2026.
Canadian employers were actively recruiting for 507,220 positions in August 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), three reported lower vacancy rates, two were unchanged, and four increased compared to July. The highest vacancy rate was reported in Manitoba, while the lowest was in Newfoundland in Labrador.
National job vacancies increased 1.0% (+5,190 vacant positions). Job vacancies fell in six provinces, led by New Brunswick. Québec reported the fastest rise in vacant positions.
Year-over-year (August 2026 vs August 2025)
Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate fell 0.1 percentage point compared to one year ago. Nationally, the job vacancy rate increased 0.1 percentage point compared to August 2025.
Three provinces reported lower job vacancy rates, with the fastest percentage point decline reported in New Brunswick. The fastest increase in job vacancy rate was reported in Manitoba.
When compared to August 2025, the number of job vacancies in Nova Scotia fell 1.5% or by 220 vacancies. National job vacancies increased 5.4% or by 25,815 vacant positions. Four provinces reported declines in the number of vacancies over the twelve-month period ending in August, led by New Brunswick. 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 February 2022. In August 2026 Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate surpassed the Canada average.
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, August 2026
Nationally, accommodation/food services, personal/repair services, and health care/social assistance had the highest job vacancy rates. The lowest vacancy rates were in utilities, management of companies, and education.
Health care/social assistance reported the largest percentage point declines in the vacancy rate. Transportation and accommodation/food services reported the highest percentage point increases compared to a year ago.
Health care/social assistance had the highest number of vacancies in Canada at 92,695 in August 2026 and also experienced the largest decline of 8,290.
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 July 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
<--- Return to Archive
