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December 18, 2025JOB VACANCIES, OCTOBER 2025 Monthly (October 2025 vs September 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia had 13,450 job vacancies in October 2025 with a vacancy rate of 2.9% (second highest among provinces after British Columbia), down 0.2 percentage points from the previous month.
Canadian employers were actively recruiting for 467,010 positions in October with the national job vacancy rate of 2.6%, down from 2.7% in September. All provinces reported stable or lower job vacancy rates in October. The lowest vacancy rate was in Newfoundland and Labrador. Note: Prince Edward Island had no data reported for October 2025.
When compared to September 2025, the number of job vacancies in Nova Scotia was down 6.1% (-880 vacant positions). National job vacancies fell 3.9% (-19,130 vacant positions). Job vacancies declined in all provinces except New Brunswick, Manitoba and Alberta. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the steepest decline in vacancies.
Year-over-year (October 2025 vs October 2024)
Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate was up 0.1 percentage points compared to October 2024. Nationally, the job vacancy rate declined 0.4 percentage points compared to October 2024. All provinces except Nova Scotia reported lower job vacancy rates compared to one year ago. Saskatchewan reported the largest percentage point reduction in the job vacancy rate. Note: Prince Edward Island had no data reported for October 2025.
When compared to October 2024, the number of job vacancies in Nova Scotia grew 2.3% or by 300 vacancies. National job vacancies declined 12.3% or by 65,220 vacant positions. Seven provinces reported declines in the number of vacancies over the twelve-month period ending in October, led by Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the only provinces to report increases in job vacancies compared to October 2024. Note: Prince Edward Island had no data reported for October 2025.
Trend
Nationally, job vacancy rates have trended downward after peaking in April-May 2022.
Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate peaked in the spring of 2022 and has also been on a downward trend. Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate has been equal to or above the national average since January 2025.
Nova Scotia's job vacancies peaked at 22,775 in July 2022 and have been trending down. There was an increase in Nova Scotia job vacancies through the summer of 2025, followed by a decrease in the autumn months.
Canada job vacancy rate and job vacancies by industry, October 2025
Nationally, accommodation/food services, health care/social assistance, and personal/repair services had the highest job vacancy rates. The lowest vacancy rates were in education and utilities. Manufacturing and personal/repair services were the only sectors to report higher job vacancy rates compared to one year ago.
Health care and social assistance had the highest number of vacancies in Canada at 96,280 in October 2025 and experienced the most significant decline in the number of vacancies (-25,205).
Notes: The job vacancy rate is the percentage of job positions (both filled and vacant) that are vacant. 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.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection was suspended from April to October 2020. There remains a break in this data series.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0432-01 Job vacancies, payroll employees, and job vacancy rate by provinces and territories, monthly, adjusted for seasonality, Table 14-10-0406-01 Job vacancies, payroll employees, and job vacancy rate by industry sector, monthly, adjusted for seasonality