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December 01, 2023LABOUR MARKET TRENDS, NOVEMBER 2023 November labour force survey results reflect the period from November 5 to 11, 2023.
Ages 15+ (November 2023 vs October 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employment declined by 700 (-0.1%) to 502,300 in November 2023, following an increase of 8,200 (+1.7%) in employment the previous month.
The change in employment was attributable to a decrease in part-time employment (-1,900) offsetting an increase in full-time employment (+1,300). 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 virtually unchanged, with an estimated decline of 100 persons in November 2023.
With a decline in employment and no change to the labour force, Nova Scotia's unemployment rate was up 0.2 percentage points to 6.8% in November 2023.
Nova Scotia's labour force participation rate was down 0.1 percentage points to 61.7% in November 2023. The employment rate was down 0.2 percentage points to 57.5% in November 2023.
Ages 15+ (November 2023 vs November 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with November 2022, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 had increased by 24,300 (+2.9%) while the labour force grew by 16,900 (+3.2%) and employment increased by 10,300 (+2.1%). The unemployment rate was up 1.1 percentage points with the participation rate up 0.2 percentage points and the employment rate down 0.4 percentage points.
Ages 15+ (January-November 2023 vs January-November 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with January-November of 2022, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 had increased by 23,200 (+2.8%) while the labour force grew by 12,300 (+2.4%) and employment increased by 12,800 (+2.6%). The unemployment rate was down 0.3 percentage points with the participation rate down 0.2 percentage points and the employment rate down 0.1 percentage point.
Age Cohorts (November 2023 vs October 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Among youth (ages 15-24), employment decreased 1,300 (-1.9%) while the labour force fell by 1,200 (-1.5%). With a faster decline in employment than labour force, the youth unemployment rate was up 0.4 percentage points to 13.8% in November. The youth participation rate was down 1.2 percentage points to 66.8% and the youth employment rate was down 1.3 percentage points to 57.6%.
The population aged 25-54 makes up the largest part of the labour force. In the core age group, employment was up 200 (+0.6%) while the labour force grew by 1,900 (+0.6%). Because employment and the labour force decreased by similar amounts, the core aged unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.2% in November 2023. The core aged participation rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 87.8% and the core aged employment rate rose 0.3 percentage points to 83.3%.
Older workers (aged 55+) reported a decline in the labour force of 800 (-0.6%) while employment fell by 1,300 (-1.1%). With employment declining faster than the labour force, the older worker unemployment rate rose 0.5 percentage points to 6.7%. The older worker participation rate was down 0.2 percentage points to 33.4% and the employment rate for older workers was down 0.4 percentage points to 31.1%.
Males and Females (Ages 15+, October 2023 vs September 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Monthly employment increased by 800 (0.3%) for males while the labour force increased 500 (+0.2%). With a smaller increase in labour force than employment, the male unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 7.2% in November. The male participation rate was unchanged at 64.8% and the male employment rate was unchanged at 60.1%.
Females reported a decline in employment of 1,500 (-0.6%) while the labour force fell 500 (-0.2%). With employment decreasing more than the labour force, the female unemployment rate increased 0.4 percentage point to 6.3% in November. Female participation rates were down 0.3 percentage points to 58.7% and the female employment rate was down 0.4 percentage points to 55.1%.
Overall, last month's labour force and employment declines were outside the core working age and higher for females compared to males.
Age and sex cohorts (November 2023 vs November 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with November 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 increases. The older cohort (55+) had an increase in population but a notably smaller increase in labour force and a decline in employment. Male population, labour force, and employment have increased more than females compared to November 2022.
Age and sex cohorts (January-November 2023 vs January-November 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Comparing the first 11 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 increases. 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 (November 2023 vs October 2023, seasonally adjusted)
The November 2023 employment change reflected a decrease in private sector workers (-2,300 or -0.7%), partially offset by increases in public sector workers (+1,400 or +1.2%) and self-employed (+200 or +0.4%).
Classified by industry, the largest employment declines from October to November were in information/culture/recreation, transportation and warehousing, education, manufacturing, and business support and call centres. The largest gains in employment in November were in accommodation/food services, finance/insurance/real estate, professional/technical/scientific and health care and social assistance (including daycares).
Class of Worker and Industry (November 2023 vs November 2022, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to November 2022, there were gains in employment for private sector workers (+12,000 or +3.8%) and self-employed (+1,200 or +2.2%). Public sector employment declined over the past year (-2,900 or -2.3%).
Over the last 12 months, employment was up in most sectors with the largest gains in accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail trade, finance/insurance/real estate and transportation/warehousing. There were notable employment declines in health care and social assistance (including daycare), construction and forestry/fishing/mining.
Class of Worker and Industry (January-November 2023 vs January-November 2022, seasonally adjusted)
The average employment levels for January-November 2023 compared to January-November 2022 increased for the private sector (+14,900 or +4.9) and the self-employed (+300 or +0.6%) but declined for the public sector (-2,500 or -2.0%). Average employment gains were largest for wholesale/retail, information/culture/recreation, and personal/repair services. Employment was down the most in construction, health care and social assistance (including daycares), and business support and call centres.
Hours worked and employment (November 2023, unadjusted)
Compared to the provincial average, a larger share of workers in agriculture, forestry/fishing/mining, construction, manufacturing, transportation/warehousing, business support including call centres, education, and personal/repair services worked more than 40 hours per week in November 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, November 2023 vs November 2022)
Average weekly earnings increased by 6.9% from November 2022 to November 2023. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in agriculture, forestry/fishing/mining, manufacturing, accommodation/food services and finance/insurance/real estate. Utilities, information/culture/recreation and personal/repair services registered declines in average weekly earnings from November 2022.
The increase in Nova Scotia's all items consumer price index was 3.2% from October 2022 to October 2023.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,100.99 in November 2023. The highest average weekly earnings (both full and part time employees) were reported in forestry/fishing/mining, utilities, professional/technical services, and public administration. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail trade and business support services.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, January-November 2023 vs January-November 2022)
Average weekly earnings for the first eleven months of the year were 5.0% 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 and utilities reported declines.
Average weekly earnings for the first eleven months of the year were highest in forestry/fishing/mining, utilities, professional/technical services and public administration. Accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail and business support/call centres reported the lowest average weekly earnings.
Regions (November 2023 vs November 2022, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with November 2022, the labour force and employment increase was concentrated in Halifax. North Shore reported gains in employment outpacing gains in labour force. Annapolis Valley reported faster gains in labour force than employment compared to November 2022. Cape Breton labour force was up while employment was down compared to one year ago. Southern reported no changes to labour force or employment compared to November 2022.
Unemployment rates rose in Halifax, Annapolis Valley and Cape Breton, while the unemployment rate declined for the North Shore and was unchanged in Southern Nova Scotia. The employment rate increased in North Shore and declined in all other regions. Participation rates rose for the North Shore and Annapolis Valley.
Regions (January-November 2023 vs January-November 2022, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
For the first eleven months of 2023, Cape Breton was the only region with a decline in employment. Increases in employment and labour force were concentrated in Halifax. Employment growth outpaced labour force growth in Southern Nova Scotia, Annapolis Valley and North Shore.
Provincial Comparisons (seasonally adjusted)
Canada's labour force grew by 0.2% from October to November while Nova Scotia's labour force was unchanged. The largest increase among the provinces was in Saskatchewan, while Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and Manitoba reported labour force declines.
Compared with November 2022, national labour force was up 3.2% (+3.2% in Nova Scotia). The fastest increase was in Prince Edward Island while the slowest growth was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Canada's employment was up 24,900 (+0.1%) from October to November with gains in six provinces. New Brunswick reported the fastest gain while the largest decline was in Prince Edward Island. Compared with November 2022, Nova Scotia's employment was up 2.1%, slower than the national gain of 2.5%. The largest increase was in Prince Edward Island while the slowest growth was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national unemployment rate was 5.8% in November 2023, up 0.1 percentage points from October, and up from 5.1% in November 2022. Manitoba had the lowest unemployment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest unemployment rate.
The national participation rate was 65.6% in November 2023. The highest participation rate was in Alberta while the lowest was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national employment rate was 61.8% in November 2023. Alberta reported the highest employment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.
Census Metropolitan Areas (November 2023, seasonally adjusted 3 month moving average)
The Halifax unemployment rate was 5.8% in the seasonally adjusted November 2023 three month moving average. Outside of Halifax the unemployment rate was 7.8%. 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 November 2023 three month moving average while participation rates were 55.7% across the rest of the province.
Halifax reported an employment rate of 63.9% in the seasonally adjusted November 2023 three month moving average while the employment rate was 51.4% 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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