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May 10, 2024LABOUR MARKET TRENDS, APRIL 2024 April labour force survey results reflect the period from April 14 to 20, 2024.
Ages 15+ (April 2024 vs March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employment declined by 900 (-0.2%) to 515,500 in April following a decline of 1,500 (-0.3%) to 516,400 in the previous month.
The change in employment was attributable to a decrease in part-time employment (-3,900) partially offset by an increase in full-time employment (+3,000). Note that changes in full-time and part-time employment can also reflect changing hours for the same job.
Nova Scotia’s labour force was down 1,100 (-0.2%) in to 549,300 April 2024.
With labour force declining more than employment, Nova Scotia's unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage points to 6.1% in April 2024.
Nova Scotia's labour force participation rate declined 0.3 percentage points to 62.1% and the employment rate was down 0.2 percentage points to 58.3% in April 2024.
Ages 15+ (April 2024 vs April 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with April 2023, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 increased by 27,100 (+3.2%), while the labour force grew by 19,700 (+3.7%), and employment increased by 19,800 (+4.0%). The unemployment rate was down 0.3 percentage points with the participation rate up 0.3 percentage points and the employment rate up 0.5 percentage points.
Ages 15+ (January-April 2024 vs January-April 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with January-April 2023, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 increased by 26,900 (+3.1%), while the labour force grew by 22,900 (+4.3%), and employment increased by 18,500 (+3.7%). The unemployment rate was up 0.5 percentage points with the participation rate up 0.7 percentage points and the employment rate up 0.3 percentage points.
Age Cohorts (April 2024 vs March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Among youth (ages 15-24), employment declined by 100 (-0.1%) while the labour force increased by 1,900 (+2.3%). With faster growth in labour force than employment, the youth unemployment rate rose 2.2 percentage points to 11.6% in April. The youth participation rate rose 1.2 percentage points to 68.6% and the youth employment rate was down 0.4 percentage points to 60.7%.
The population aged 25-54 makes up the largest part of the labour force. In the core age group, employment was up 2,300 (+0.7%) while the labour force rose by 200 (+0.1%). With employment rising faster than labour force, the core aged unemployment rate was down 0.6 percentage points to 5.3% in April 2024. The core aged participation rate was down 0.2 percentage points to 87.9% and the core aged employment rate was up 0.4 percentage points to 83.3%.
Older workers (aged 55+) reported the labour force decreased by 3,200 (-2.5%) and while employment fell by 3,100 (-2.6%). With employment and labour force falling at the same pace, the older worker unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9%. The older worker participation rate declined 0.9 percentage points to 33.2% and the employment rate for older workers declined 0.8 percentage points to 31.6%.
Males and Females (Ages 15+, April 2024 vs March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Monthly employment declined 2,000 (-0.8%) for males while the labour force declined 2,500 (-0.9%). With a larger decline in labour force than employment, the male unemployment rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 6.4% in April. The male participation rate declined 0.7 percentage points to 64.7% and the male employment rate declined 0.6 percentage points to 60.5%.
Females reported an increase in employment of 1,100 (+0.4%) while the labour force increased 1,400 (+0.5%). With labour force growing at about the same pace employment, the female unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8% in April. The female participation rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 59.7% and the female employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 56.2%.
April's decline in labour force and employment was primarily due to declines among older workers and males, partially offset by increases for core aged workers and females.
Age and sex cohorts (April 2024 vs April 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with April 2023, labour force and employment growth was highest among core aged workers (whose population has also grown the most over this period). The next highest labour force and employment gains were among youth (15-24). Only the youth cohort had an increase in employment that outpaced labour force gains on a year-over-year basis. Male population, labour force, and employment have increased more than females compared to April 2023.
Age and sex cohorts (January-April 2024 vs January-April 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with January-April 2023, labour force and employment growth was highest among core aged workers (whose population is also growing more than others). Youth workers had a faster increase in employment while older workers had a faster increase in labour force (as did the core aged cohort). Male population, labour force, and employment have increased more than females compared to January-April 2023.
Class of Worker and Industry (April 2024 vs March 2024, seasonally adjusted)
The April 2024 employment change reflected declines for both private sector (-400, -0.1%) and public sector (-500, -0.4%) workers. There was an increase of 100 self-employed workers (+0.2%).
Classified by industry, the largest employment declines from March to April were in business support (includes call centres) and wholesale/retail trade. The largest increase in employment in April was in forestry/fishing/mining.
Class of Worker and Industry (April 2024 vs April 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to April 2023, there were gains in employment for private sector workers (+15,300 or +4.8%) and public sector workers (+10,800 or +8.9%), and a decline in self-employed (-6,200 or -10.7%).
Over the last 12 months, employment was up in most sectors with the largest gains in education and accommodation/food. The only declines were reported in business/support (includes call centres), professional/technical and agriculture.
Class of Worker and Industry (January-April 2024 vs January-April 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to January-April 2023, gains were strongest for private sector workers (14,200 or +4.4%) followed by public sector workers (+9,400 or +7.8%). The number of self employed declined (-4,900 or -8.6%) in January-April 2024.
Gains in employment were strongest in wholesale/retail and education while the largest declines were in professional/technical, construction and forestry/fishing/mining in the first four months of 2024.
Hours worked and employment (April 2024, unadjusted)
Compared to the provincial average, a larger share of workers in forestry/fishing/mining, agriculture, construction, personal/repair services, manufacturing, transportation/warehousing, professional/technical and health/social worked more than 40 hours per week in April 2024.
Note that some data on those working few hours in utilities and agriculture were suppressed.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, April 2024 vs April 2023)
Average weekly earnings increased by 6.7% from April 2023 to April 2024. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in utilities, transportation/warehousing, accommodation/food and forestry/fishing/mining. Agriculture registered the fastest decline in average weekly earnings from April 2023, followed by wholesale/retail, education and business support including call centres.
The increase in Nova Scotia's all items consumer price index was 3.3% from March 2023 to March 2024.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,127.47 in April 2024. The highest average weekly earnings (both full and part time employees) were reported in utilities, forestry/fishing/mining, professional/technical services, and public administration. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, agriculture, business support services including call centres and wholesale/retail trade.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, January-April 2024 vs January-April 2023)
Average weekly earnings increased 5.8% in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period of 2023. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in professional/technical services, manufacturing and accommodation/food services. Agriculture and business support (including call centres) registered the fastest declines in average weekly earnings in January-April 2024.
Average weekly earnings in the first four months of 2024 were highest in utilities, professional/technical services, and public administration. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail trade and business support services (including call centres) in January-April 2024.
Regions (April 2024 vs April 2023, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with April 2023, labour force and employment increases were concentrated in Halifax. Halifax, Cape Breton and Southern Nova Scotia reported larger gains in labour force than employment, resulting in higher unemployment. North Shore and Annapolis Valley reported faster employment growth, resulting in lower unemployment.
Unemployment rates were up in Cape Breton, Southern Nova Scotia and Halifax while they declined in North Shore and Annapolis Valley. Participation rates were up in all regions except North Shore, while employment rates were up in every region.
Regions (January-April 2024 vs January-April 2023, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with the first four months of 2023, all regions except Southern Nova Scotia reported higher labour force and higher employment. Labour force gains outpaced employment growth, resulting in higher unemployment in every region.
Provincial Comparisons (seasonally adjusted)
Canada's labour force was up 0.5% from March, while Nova Scotia's labour force declined 0.2%. Eight provinces reported increases in labour force in April 2024, with the largest percentage increase in Alberta. The largest decline in labour force was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Compared with April 2023, the national labour force was up 3.0% (+3.7% in Nova Scotia). The fastest increase was in Alberta while the slowest growth was in Quebec.
Canada's employment rose 0.4% from March to April, with all provinces except Nova Scotia (-0.2%) reporting higher employment. Compared with April 2023, Nova Scotia's employment was up 4.0%, faster than the national gain of 1.9%. The largest increase in percentage terms was in Prince Edward Island while the slowest growth was in Quebec.
The national unemployment rate was 6.1% in April 2024, up from 5.1% in April 2023. British Columbia had the lowest unemployment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest unemployment rate in April 2024.
The national participation rate was 65.4% in April 2024. The highest participation rate was in Alberta while the lowest was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national employment rate was 61.4% in April 2024. Alberta reported the highest employment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.
Census Metropolitan Areas (April 2024, seasonally adjusted 3 month moving average)
The Halifax unemployment rate was 5.1% in the seasonally adjusted April 2024 three month moving average. Outside of Halifax the unemployment rate was 7.3%. In central and western provinces, unemployment rates in Census Metropolitan Areas are similar to or higher than unemployment rates outside CMAs. In the Atlantic Provinces unemployment rates are typically higher outside CMAs.
Halifax's participation rate was 69.2% in the seasonally adjusted April 2024 three month moving average, while participation rates were 56.0% across the rest of the province.
Halifax reported an employment rate of 65.7% in the seasonally adjusted April 2024 three month moving average, while the employment rate was 51.9% outside the city.
Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0036-01 Actual hours worked by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality; Table 14-10-0063-01 Employee wages by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality; Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months; Table 14-10-0380-01 Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0387-01 Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality, last 5 months; Table 14-10-0355-01 Employment by industry, monthly, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, and trend-cycle, last 5 months (x 1,000); Table 14-10-0288-01 Employment by class of worker, monthly, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months (x 1,000); Table: 14-10-0380-02 Labour force characteristics, three month moving average, seasonally adjusted (x 1,000)
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