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June 22, 2021JOB VACANCIES AND WAGES, Q1 2021 Statistics Canada has released its quarterly job vacancy and wage survey (unadjusted for seasonality) for the first quarter of 2021. Data collection activities were suspended from the start of the pandemic in March to September 2020. There remains a gap in the dataset for this survey.
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 3.2% in the first quarter of 2021, representing 12,780 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 2.5% vacancy rate (10,165 vacancies) observed during the first quarter of 2020.
The national job vacancy rate was 3.6%, up from 3.1% in the first quarter of 2020.
Across Canada, Q1 2021 job vacancy rates were highest in British Columbia and Quebec. The lowest job vacancy rates were reported in Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. Compared to Q1 2020, vacancy rates increased for all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, where the vacancy rate declined.
The average wage offered for a vacant position in Q1 2021 was $20.70 per hour in Nova Scotia, up from $18.95 in Q1 2020. The national average wage offered increased $1.00 over Q1 2020 to $23.60 per hour.
Compared with Q1 2020, the average wage offered increased 4.4% nationally. Average wages on vacant positions were highest in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, and lowest in the Maritime provinces. Average wages offered on vacant positions increased in all provinces except Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Among Nova Scotia's economic regions, Q1 2021 job vacancy rates were highest in the Annapolis Valley and lowest in Cape Breton. All regions had higher job vacancy rates compared to a year ago.
Compared with Q1 2020, average wages on vacant positions increased in all regions.
Across sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's Q1 2021 job vacancy rates were lower than the national average in every category except transportation, information and cultural industries, education, arts, entertainment and recreation, and accommodation and food services. 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 Q1 except other services. The largest wage differences were found in construction, information and cultural, and real estate, rental and leasing services.
Across sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's job vacancy rates increased the most over the last year (Q1 2021 vs Q1 2020) in construction, and arts, entertainment and recreation. Vacancy rates declined in administrative, waste management and support services.
For sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's average hourly wages on vacant positions were highest in utilities, followed by professional/technical services. The fastest wage gains (Q1 2021 vs Q1 2020) were in health care and social assistance, and accommodation and food services. Average wages offered on vacant positions fell the fastest in construction and transportation.
Of the 12,780 job vacancies reported in Nova Scotia during Q1 2021, the largest number (3,610) were in sales and service occupations. Sales/service vacancies increased 1.0% compared to the same period last year. Most occupation categories saw double-digit increases in the number of vacancies compared to one year ago. Among occupations with data, vacancies were up the most in trades, transport and equipment operators, and health care and social assistance.
Average wages offered on vacant positions in Nova Scotia during Q1 2021 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 Q1 2021.
In Q1 2021, 57.4% of vacant positions in Nova Scotia required high school or lower levels of education, down slightly from 58.6% of vacancies in Q1 2020. 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 Q1 2020) 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.
The number of vacant positions requiring less than one year of experience increased 18.5% (+1,075) compared to Q1 2020. The average wage offered on vacant positions increased for all required experience levels. The largest percentage gain occurred in jobs requiring 8 or more years of experience (+14.3%).
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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