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September 08, 2023LABOUR MARKET TRENDS, AUGUST 2023 August labour force survey results reflect the period from August 13 to 19, 2023.
Ages 15+ (August 2023 vs July 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employment decreased 3,600 (-0.7%) to 491,600 in August 2023, following a employment decline the previous month.
The change in employment was attributable to a decrease in full-time employment (-3,500) and part-time employment (-100). Note that changes in full-time and part-time employment can also reflect changing hours for the same job.
Nova Scotia’s labour force decreased by 8,000 (-1.5%) to 528,800 in August 2023.
With a larger labour force decrease than the employment decline, Nova Scotia's unemployment rate was down 0.7 percentage points to 7.0% in August 2023.
Nova Scotia's labour force participation rate was down 1.1 percentage points to 60.9% in August 2023. The employment rate was down 0.5 percentage points to 56.7% in August 2023.
Ages 15+ (August 2023 vs August 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with August 2022, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 had increased by 23,700 (+2.8%) while the labour force grew by 4,500 (+0.9%) and employment increased by 8,400 (+1.7%). The unemployment rate was down 0.8 percentage points with the participation rate down 1.2 percentage points and the employment rate down 0.6 percentage points.
Ages 15+ (January-August 2023 vs January-August 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with January-August of 2022, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 had increased by 23,000 (+2.8%) while the labour force grew by 11,200 (+2.2%) and employment increased by 13,100 (+2.7%). The unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 percentage points with the participation rate down 0.3 percentage points and the employment rate unchanged.
Age Cohorts (August 2023 vs July 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Among youth (ages 15-24), employment increased by 100 (+0.1%) while the labour force decreased 400 (-0.5%). With an increase in employment and decline in the labour force, the youth unemployment rate was down 0.6 percentage points to 10.9% in August. The youth participation rate was down 0.7 percentage points to 65.7% and the youth employment rate was down 0.2 percentage points to 58.5%.
The population aged 25-54 makes up the largest part of the labour force. In the core age group, employment was down by 5,900 (-1.9%) while the labour force decreased by 8,400 (-2.5%). Because employment decreased less than the labour force, the core aged unemployment rate was down 0.5 percentage points to 6.5% in August 2023. The core aged participation rate decreased 2.5 percentage points to 86.9% and the core aged employment rate decreased 1.9 percentage points to 81.2%.
Older workers (aged 55+) reported an increase in labour force (+800 or +0.7%) while employment increased (+2,200 or +1.9%). With labour force rising at a slower pace than employment, the older worker unemployment rate decreased 1.2 percentage points to 6.2%. The older worker participation rate was up 0.1 percentage points to 33.0% and the employment rate for older workers was up 0.5 percentage points to 31.0%.
Males and Females (Ages 15+, August 2023 vs July 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Monthly employment increased by 400 (+0.2%) for males while the labour force decreased 1,400 (-0.5%). With a decrease in labour force and higher employment, the male unemployment rate declined 0.6 percentage points to 7.5% in August. The male participation rate was down 0.6 percentage points to 64.4% and the male employment rate was down 0.1 percentage points to 59.6%.
Females reported a 4,100 (-1.7%) employment decline while the labour force decreased (-6,600 or -2.5%). With the labour force decreasing more than employment, the female unemployment rate increased 0.8 percentage point to 6.6% in August. Female participation rates were down 1.6 percentage points to 57.7% and the female employment rate was down 1.0 percentage points to 53.9%.
Overall, last month's labour force and employment decrease was primarily among core-aged workers and females.
Age and sex cohorts (August 2023 vs August 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with August 2022, labour force and employment growth was concentrated among core aged workers (whose population is also growing more than others). Youth (15-24) labour force declined while employment was up a small amount. The older cohort (55+) had an increase in population but declines in labour force and employment. Male employment has increased while females is down even as there were similar rises in population and labour force.
Age and sex cohorts (January-August 2023 vs January-August 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Comparing the first eight months of 2023 with same months last year, labour force and employment gains are mostly among core aged workers. Youth labour force and employment had small changes. Among older workers, there has been an increase in persons not in labour force (including retired persons) and declines in labour force, employment and unemployment. Although there were similar population increases, the labour force and employment among females has increased more than among males.
Class of Worker and Industry (August 2023 vs July 2023, seasonally adjusted)
The August 2023 employment change reflected decrease in private sector workers (-1,100 or -0.3%), public sector workers (-700 or -0.6%) and self-employed (-1,900 or -3.3%).
Classified by industry, the employment change from July to August included decreases in public administration; forestry, fishing and mining; transportation and warehousing and health care and social assistance . The largest employment increase this month were in business support, construction, information, culture, and recreation
Class of Worker and Industry (August 2023 vs August 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to August 2022, there was a large gain in employment for private sector workers (+11,300 or +3.7%) and self-employed (+3,000 or +5.7%). Public sector workers declined over the past year (-6,000 or -4.8%).
Over the last 12 months, employment by industry has risen most for wholesale/retail, information/culture/recreation, transportation/warehousing and personal/repair services. There were notable employment losses in construction, business support services, health care and social assistance (including daycares), professional/technical services, utilities, and forestry/fishing/mining.
Class of Worker and Industry (January-August 2023 vs January-August 2022, seasonally adjusted)
The average employment levels for January-July 2023 compared to January-July 2022 increased for private sector (+15,400 or +5.1%), was down for public sector (-2,100 or -1.7%) and self-employed (-300 or -0.4%). The first eight months average employment had the most notable gains in wholesale/retail, information/culture/recreation, personal/repair, public administration, and accommodation/food services. Lower employment was notably in construction, business support services, and utilities.
Hours worked and employment (August 2023, unadjusted)
A larger share of workers in manufacturing, transportation/warehousing, construction, business support, agriculture and forestry/fishing/mining worked more than 40 hours per week in August 2023.
Note that some data on those working few hours in utilities, forestry, fishing, and mining and agriculture were suppressed.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, August 2023 vs August 2022)
Average weekly earnings increased by 3.1% from August 2022 to August 2023. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in information, recreation, and culture; manufacturing, and transportation/warehousing. Average weekly wages had larger declines in utilities, personal/repair services, and business support services.
The increase in Nova Scotia's all items consumer price index was 3.4% from July 2022 to July 2023.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,077.34 in August 2023. The highest average weekly earnings (both full and part time employees) were reported in forestry/fishing/mining, public administration, professional/technical services, and utilities. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, business support services, wholesale/retail trade, and agriculture.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, January-August 2023 vs January-August 2022)
Average weekly earnings for the first eight months of the year were 4.6% higher than the same months last year. Agriculture, wholesale/retail, manufacturing, and accommodation/food services reported the fastest growth. Average wages in personal/repair services, utilities, and educational services reported declines.
Regions (August 2023 vs August 2022, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with August 2022, the labour force and employment increase was concentrated in Halifax. Annapolis Valley and Southern also reported increase in both labour force and employment compared to August 2022. North Shore had a decline in labour force while employment grew. Cape Breton labour force and employment were down compared to last year.
Unemployment rates declined for all regions except Halifax and Cape Breton. The employment rate increased for North Shore, Annapolis Valley and Southern region. The partipation rate was up in Annapolis Valley, Southern and Halifax. The declines in the participation rate and employment rate in Cape Breton were larger than other regions.
Regions (January-August 2023 vs January-August 2022, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
For the first eight months of 2023, Cape Breton and North Shore had declines in both labour force and employment. Increases in employment and labour force were concentrated in Halifax. Employment was up more than the labour force in Annapolis Valley and Southern compared to January-August 2022.
Provincial Comparisons (seasonally adjusted)
Canada's labour force grew by 0.3% from July to August while Nova Scotia's labour force was down 1.5%, the only province with a decline this month. The largest increase among the provinces was in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island reported.
Compared with August 2022, national labour force was up 2.8% (+0.9% in Nova Scotia). The fastest increase was in Prince Edward Island and Alberta. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the only decline.
Canada's employment was up 39,900 (+0.2%) from July to August with small gains in eight provinces. Prince Edward Island reported the largest gain while largest decline was largest in Nova Scotia. Compared with August 2022, Nova Scotia's employment was up 1.7%, slower than the national gain of 2.5. The largest increases were in Prince Edward island and Alberta while the slowest growth was in Saskatchewan.
The national unemployment rate was 5.5% in August 2023, unchanged from last month and up from 5.3% in August 2022. Quebec had the lowest unemployment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest unemployment rate.
The national participation rate was 65.5% in August 2023. The highest participation rate was in Alberta while the lowest was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national employment rate was 61.9% in August 2023. Alberta reported the highest employment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.
Census Metropolitan Areas (August 2023, seasonally adjusted 3 month moving average)
The Halifax unemployment rate was 7.1% in the seasonally adjusted August 2023 three month moving average. While outside of Halifax the unemployment rate was 7.0%, a reverse of the more typical pattern of lower unemployment rate in Halifax. 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 68.1% in the seasonally adjusted August 2023 three month moving average while participation rates were 55.5% across the rest of the province.
Halifax reported an employment rate of 63.3% in the seasonally adjusted August 2023 three month moving average while the employment rate was 51.6% 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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