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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

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

January 05, 2024
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, DECEMBER 2023

                                                                           

MONTH OVER MONTH (December 2023 vs November 2023, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia,

• Labour force increased 2,600 (+0.5%) to 541,300
• Employment increased 6,300 (+1.3%) to 508,600
• Unemployment decreased 3,800 (-10.4%) to 32,700
• Unemployment rate decreased 0.8 percentage points to 6.0%

In Canada, 

• Labour force increased 4,800 (+0.0%) to 21,557,800
• Employment increased 100 (+0.0%) to 20,312,600
• Unemployment increased 4,800 (+0.4%) to 1,245,200
• Unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8%

In Halifax,  (3-month moving average) 

• Labour force increased 1,800 (+0.6%) to 284,000
• Employment increased 3,700 (+1.4%) to 269,400
• Unemployment decreased 1,900 (-11.5%) to 14,600
• Unemployment rate decreased 0.7 percentage points to 5.1%

 

YEAR OVER YEAR (December 2023 vs December 2022)

In Nova Scotia,

• Labour force increased 16,700 (+3.2%)
• Employment increased 16,400 (+3.3%)
• Unemployment increased 300 (+0.9%)
• Unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points

In Canada, 

• Labour force increased 632,000 (+3.0%)
• Employment increased 430,300 (+2.2%)
• Unemployment increased 201,800 (+19.3%)
• Unemployment rate increased 0.8 percentage points

In Halifax,  (3-month moving average) 

• Labour force increased 11,500 (+4.2%)
• Employment increased 11,000 (+4.3%)
• Unemployment increased 500 (+3.5%)
• Unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points

 

ANNUAL (2023 vs 2022, annual averages)

In Nova Scotia,

• Labour force increased 12,500 (+2.4%) to an annual average of 531,300
• Employment increased 12,900 (+2.7%) to an annual average of 497,800
• Unemployment decreased 200 (-0.6%) to an annual average of 33,600
• Unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to an annual average of 6.3%

In Canada, 

• Labour force increased 535,200 (+2.6%) to an annual average of 21,325,800
• Employment increased 477,900 (+2.4%) to an annual average of 20,170,900
• Unemployment increased 57,100 (+5.2%) to an annual average of 1,154,800
• Unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to an annual average of 5.4%

In Halifax,

• Labour force increased 13,300 (+5.0%) to an annual average of 278,900
• Employment increased 11,200 (+4.4%) to an annual average of 263,600
• Unemployment increased 2,200 (+16.8%) to an annual average of 15,300
• Unemployment rate increased 0.6 percentage points to an annual average of 5.5%

 

Source: Statistics Canada. 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 14-10-0385-01 Labour force characteristics, annual; Table 14-10-0327-01 Labour force characteristics by sex and detailed age group, annual

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