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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

Thomas StorringDirector – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

October 06, 2023
LABOUR MARKET TRENDS, SEPTEMBER 2023

September labour force survey results reflect the period from September 10 to 16, 2023.

Ages 15+ (September 2023 vs August 2023, seasonally adjusted)

Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employment increased 3,200 (+0.7%) to 494,800 in September 2023, following an employment decline the previous two months.

The change in employment was attributable to a increase in full-time employment (+8,100) and decrease in part-time employment (-5,000). Note that changes in full-time and part-time employment can also reflect changing hours for the same job.

Nova Scotia’s labour force increased by 2,700 (+0.5%) to 531,500 in September 2023.

With a larger increase in employment than the labour force, Nova Scotia's unemployment rate was down 0.1 percentage points to 6.9% in September 2023.

Nova Scotia's labour force participation rate was up 0.2 percentage points to 61.1% in September 2023. The employment rate was up 0.2 percentage points to 56.9% in September 2023.

 

 

 

 

Ages 15+ (September 2023 vs September 2022, seasonally adjusted)

Compared with September 2022, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 had increased by 23,500 (+2.8%) while the labour force grew by 13,100 (+2.5%) and employment increased by 9,000 (+1.9%).  The unemployment rate was up 0.6 percentage points with the participation rate down 0.2 percentage points and the employment rate down 0.5 percentage points.

Ages 15+ (January-September 2023 vs January-September 2022, seasonally adjusted)

Compared with January-September of 2022, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 had increased by 23,100 (+2.8%) while the labour force grew by 11,400 (+2.2%) and employment increased by 12,700 (+2.6%).  The unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points with the participation rate down 0.3 percentage points and the employment rate down 0.1 percentage points.

Age Cohorts (September 2023 vs August 2023, seasonally adjusted)

Among youth (ages 15-24), employment decreased by 2,000 (-3.0%) while the labour force decreased 500 (-0.7%).  With a larger decrease in employment and than in the labour force, the youth unemployment rate was up 2.2 percentage points to 13.1% in September. The youth participation rate was down 0.8 percentage points to 64.9% and the youth employment rate was down 2.0 percentage points to 56.5%.

 

 

 

 

The population aged 25-54 makes up the largest part of the labour force.  In the core age group, employment was up by 8,300 (+2.7%) while the labour force increase by 4,600 (+1.4%).  Because employment increase more than the labour force,  the core aged unemployment rate was down 1.3 percentage points to 5.2% in September 2023. The core aged participation rate increased 0.9 percentage points to 87.8% and the core aged employment rate increased 2.0 percentage points to 83.2%.

Older workers (aged 55+) reported a decrease in labour force (-1,500 or -1.2%) while employment decreased (-3,200 or -2.8%).  With labour force decreasing less than employment, the older worker unemployment rate increased 1.4 percentage points to 7.6%. The older worker participation rate was down 0.4 percentage points to 32.6% and the employment rate for older workers was down 0.9 percentage points to 30.1%.  

 

 

 

 

Males and Females (Ages 15+, September 2023 vs August 2023, seasonally adjusted)

Monthly employment decreased by 2,400 (-1.0%) for males while the labour force decreased 600 (-0.2%).  With a smaller decrease in labour force than employment, the male unemployment rate increased 0.7 percentage points to 8.2% in September. The male participation rate was down 0.3 percentage points to 64.1% and the male employment rate was down 0.7 percentage points to 58.9%. 

Females reported a 5,700 (+2.4%) employment gain while the labour force increased 3,200 (+1.2%).  With employment increasing more than the labour force, the female unemployment rate decreased 1.0 percentage point to 5.6% in September. Female participation rates were up 0.6 percentage points to 58.3% and the female employment rate was up 1.1 percentage points to 55.0%.

 

 

 

Overall, last month's labour force and employment gains was among core-aged workers and females.

Age and sex cohorts (September 2023 vs September 2022, seasonally adjusted)

Compared with September 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 and employment both had small changes. The older cohort (55+) had an increase in population but declines in labour force and employment. Male population, labour force, and employment have increased more than females compared to September 2022.

Age and sex cohorts (January-September 2023 vs January-September 2022, seasonally adjusted)

Comparing the first nine 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 (September 2023 vs August 2023, seasonally adjusted)

The September 2023 employment change reflected decrease in private sector workers (-700 or -0.2%), offset by increases in public sector workers (+1,700 or +1.4%) and self-employed (+2,300 or 4.1%).

Classified by industry, the largest employment gains from August to September were in public administration, professional/technical services, and education. The largest declines in the month were in health care and social assistance (including daycares), manufacturing, and construction.

Class of Worker and Industry (September 2023 vs September 2022, seasonally adjusted)

Compared to September 2022, there were gains in employment for private sector workers (+8,600 or +2.8%) and self-employed (+4,100 or +7.6%). Public sector employment declined over the past year (-3,700 or -3.0%).

Over the last 12 months, employment was up in most sectors with the largest gains in transportation/warehousing, personal/repair services and manufacturing. There were notable employment declines in health care and social assistance (including daycare), construction, utilities and forestry/fishing/mining.

Class of Worker and Industry (January-September 2023 vs January-September 2022, seasonally adjusted)

The average employment levels for January-September 2023 compared to January-September 2022 increased for the private sector (+14,700 or +4.8%) and the self-employed (+200 or +0.4%) but declined for the public sector (-2,200 or -1.8%). average employment were largest for wholesale/retail,  information/culture/recreation, and personal/repair. Employment was down in most goods industries (except manufacturing) along with busines support and call centres as well as health and social (including daycares).

 

 

Hours worked and employment (September 2023, unadjusted)

Compard to the provincial average, a larger share of workers in agriculture, forestry/fishing/mining, construction, manufacturing, transportation, business support including call centres, educaiton and personal/repair services worked more than 40 hours per week in September 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, September 2023 vs September 2022)

Average weekly earnings increased by 6.1% from September 2022 to September 2023.  The fastest gain in average weekly earnings was in agriculture with an atypically low level in September 2022 ($496.61 per week) and atypically high value in September 2023 ($1,293.21). Average weekly wages were also up substantially in information, culture, recreation, accommodation/food services and business support services. The largest decline in average weekly wage were in forestry/fishing/mining and utilities.

The increase in Nova Scotia's all items consumer price index was 4.7% from August 2022 to August 2023.

 

Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,084.86 in September 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, and wholesale/retail trade.

Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, January-September 2023 vs January-September 2022)

Average weekly earnings for the first nine months of the year were 4.7% higher than the same months last year. Agriculture, wholesale/retail, and manufacturing reported the fastest growth. Average wages in personal/repair services, education, and utilities reported declines.

 

Regions (September 2023 vs September 2022, unadjusted 3 month moving average)

Compared with September 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 September 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 North Shore and Southern while increase in Cape Breton, Annapolis Valley and Halifax. The employment rate increased for North Shore and Southern. The participation rate was up in Southern and Halifax.

 

 

 

Regions (January-September 2023 vs January-September 2022, unadjusted 3 month moving average)

For the first nine 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-September 2022.

Provincial Comparisons (seasonally adjusted)

Canada's labour force grew by 0.3% from August to September while Nova Scotia's labour force was up 0.5%.  The largest increase among the provinces was in Prince Edward Island while New Brunswick and Alberta reported labour force declines.

Compared with September 2022, national labour force was up 3.2% (+2.5% in Nova Scotia).  The fastest increase was in Prince Edward Island and slowest growth in Newfoundland and Labrador reported.

Canada's employment was up 64,000 (+0.3%) from August to September with gains in seven provinces. Prince Edward Island reported the largest gain while the largest decline was in Alberta. Compared with September 2022, Nova Scotia's employment was up 1.9%, slower than the national gain of 2.8%.  The largest increases were in Prince Edward island while the slowest growth was in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The national unemployment rate was 5.5% in September 2023, unchanged from last month and up from 5.2% in September 2022.  Quebec had the lowest unemployment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest unemployment rate. 

The national participation rate was 65.6% in September 2023.  The highest participation rate was in Alberta while the lowest was in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The national employment rate was 62.0% in September 2023.  Alberta reported the highest employment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.

Census Metropolitan Areas (September 2023, seasonally adjusted 3 month moving average)

The Halifax unemployment rate was 7.1% in the seasonally adjusted September 2023 three month moving average.  While outside of Halifax the unemployment rate was 7.4%. 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 67.9% in the seasonally adjusted September 2023 three month moving average while participation rates were 55.4% across the rest of the province.

Halifax reported an employment rate of 63.1% in the seasonally adjusted September 2023 three month moving average while the employment rate was 51.3% outside the city.

Sources:  Statistics Canada.  Table 14-10-0036-01  Actual hours worked by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonalityTable 14-10-0063-01  Employee wages by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonalityTable  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 adjustedTable 14-10-0387-01  Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality, last 5 monthsTable  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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