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March 23, 2021JOB VACANCIES AND WAGES, Q4 2020 Statistics Canada has released its quarterly job vacancy and wage survey (unadjusted for seasonality) for the fourth quarter of 2020. This is the first quarterly analysis since December 2019, as data collection activities were suspended from the start of the pandemic in March to September 2020.
This release provides data on the portion of jobs in a particular region, sector or occupation that are vacant. It also provides information on the wages offered on vacant positions as well as education and experience requirements. 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.
Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate was 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020, representing 13,025 job vacancies (these data are unadjusted for seasonality and typically report more labour market slack in the winter months). Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate is higher than the 2.8% vacancy rate (11,850 vacancies) observed at the same time in 2019.
The national job vacancy rate was 3.5%, up from 3.0% in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Across Canada, Q4 2020 job vacancy rates were highest in British Columbia, Quebec, and New Brunswick. The lowest job vacancy rates were reported in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Compared to Q4 2019, vacancy rates increased for all provinces.
The average wage offered for a vacant position in Q4 2020 was $19.90 per hour in Nova Scotia, up from $18.55 in Q4 2019. The national average wage offered increased $0.75 over Q4 2019 to $22.50 per hour.
Compared with Q4 2019, the average wage offered increased 3.4% nationally. Average wages on vacant positions were highest in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta, and lowest in the Maritime provinces. Average wages offered on vacant positions increased in all provinces except Alberta and Prince Edward Island.
Among Nova Scotia's economic regions, Q4 2020 job vacancy rates were highest in the Annapolis Valley, with comparable rates for the remaining regions. All regions except Southern Nova Scotia had higher job vacancy rates in the fourth quarter compared to a year ago, despite elevated unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Compared with Q4 2019, average wages on vacant positions increased in all regions.
Across sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's Q4 2020 job vacancy rates were lower than the national average in every category except construction, transportation, professional and technical services, education and public administration. Suppressed data are labelled as 'n/a'.
Compared to the national average, the wages offered for vacant positions in Nova Scotia were lower for all sectors in Q4 2020 except mining, oil and gas. For sectors with available data, the largest wage differences were found in public administration, and information and cultural.
Across sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's job vacancy rates increased the most over the last year (Q4 2020 vs Q4 2019) in retail trade, transportation and public administration. Vacancy rates declined the most in accommodation and food services, and information and cultural.
For sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's average hourly wages on vacant positions were highest in mining, oil and gas, followed by professional/technical services. The fastest wage gains (Q4 2020 vs Q4 2019) were in information and cultural, and other services. Average wages offered on vacant positions fell the fastest in public administration.
Of the 13,025 job vacancies reported in Nova Scotia during Q4 2020, the largest number (4,070) were in sales and service occupations. Sales/service vacancies decreased 4.9% compared to the same period last year. Among occupations with data, vacancies were up the most in education, law, community, and government.
Average wages offered on vacant positions in Nova Scotia during Q4 2020 were highest for management, followed by natural/applied sciences and health occupations. Sales and service, natural resources and agriculture, and manufacturing/utilities occupations had the lowest wages offered on vacant positions in Q4 2020.
In Q4 2020, 59.8% of vacant positions in Nova Scotia required high school or lower levels of education, up slightly from 59.3% of vacancies in Q4 2019. Vacancies increased the most for positions requiring no minimum level of education.
Wages offered for vacant positions requiring high school or lower education were on average less than wages offered on vacancies requiring more education. The fastest growth in wages offered (compared to Q4 2019) were for positions requiring a university certificate or diploma above a bachelor's level. Wages offered are up compared to the previous year for all education levels except jobs requiring a bachelor's degree.
The number of vacant positions requiring less than one year of experience increased 10.8% (+765) compared to Q4 2019. The average wage offered on vacant positions increased for all required experience levels. The largest percentage gain occurred in jobs requiring 1-3 years of experience (+9.6%).
JVWS data are not seasonally adjusted. Therefore, quarter-to-quarter comparisons should be interpreted with caution as they may reflect seasonal movements.
Source: Statistics Canada.
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