For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
March 13, 2026LABOUR MARKET TRENDS, FEBRUARY 2026 February labour force survey results reflect the period from February 15 to 21, 2026.
Ages 15+ (February 2026 vs January 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employment declined by a statistically insignificant 600 (-0.1%) to 524,100 in February. This follows growth of 0.1% (+500) in January.
The change in employment reflected a decrease for full-time jobs (-5,000), partially offset by higher part-time employment (+4,300). Note that changes in full-time and part-time employment can also reflect changing hours for the same job.
Nova Scotia’s labour force rose by 400 (+0.1%) to 563,900 in February 2026, also a statistically insignificant change.
With labour force growing and employment declining, Nova Scotia's unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 7.1% in February 2026.
Nova Scotia's labour force participation and employment rates both edged down 0.1 percentage point to 61.3% and 57.0%, respectively.
Ages 15+ (February 2026 vs February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with February 2025, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 increased by 8,600 (+0.9%), while the labour force rose by 4,400 (+0.8%), and employment rose by 2,000 (+0.4%). Compared to February 2025, the unemployment rate was up by 0.4 percentage points, while the participation rate declined by 0.1 percentage point and the employment rate declined by 0.3 percentage points.
Ages 15+ (January-February 2026 vs January-February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with January-February 2025, Nova Scotia's population over the age of 15 increased by 8,700 (+1.0%), while the labour force rose by 3,800 (+0.7%), and employment rose by 200 (+0.04%). Compared to January-February 2025, the unemployment rate was up by 0.6 percentage points, while the participation rate declined by 0.2 percentage points and the employment rate declined by 0.5 percentage points.
Note: Year-to-date estimates are calculated as averages of monthly data and rounded to the nearest tenth. Year-to-date changes in the table are also rounded to the nearest tenth.
Age Cohorts (February 2026 vs January 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Among youth (ages 15-24), employment declined by 200 (-0.3%), while the labour force rose by 1,000 (+1.4%). The youth unemployment rate rose 1.5 percentage points to 16.4% in February 2026. The youth participation rate rose 0.8 percentage points to 63.7% while the youth employment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 53.3%.
The population aged 25-54 makes up the largest part of the labour force. In the core age group, employment rose by 3,000 (+0.9%) while the labour force rose by 6,500 (+1.8%). With labour force rising faster than employment, the core aged unemployment rate rose 0.9 percentage points to 6.1% in February 2026. The core aged participation rate increased 1.5 percentage points to 87.8%, while the core aged employment rate rose 0.6 percentage points to 82.4%.
Among older workers (aged 55+) the labour force fell by 7,000 (-5.3%) while employment fell by 3,400 (-2.8%). With labour force falling faster than employment, the older worker unemployment rate declined 2.5 percentage points to 4.4%. The older worker participation rate declined 1.8 percentage point to 32.2% and the employment rate fell 0.9 percentage points to 30.7%.
Males and Females (Ages 15+, February 2026 vs January 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Monthly employment fell by 1,900 (-0.7%) for males while the labour force fell by 2,200 (-0.7%) from January. With labour force falling faster than employment, the male unemployment rate edged down by 0.1 percentage point to 7.2% in February. The male participation rate fell 0.6 percentage points to 65.3%, while the male employment rate fell 0.5 percentage point to 60.6%.
Females reported a labour force increase of 2,700 (+1.0%) and an employment increase of 1,300 (+0.5%). With labour force growing faster than employment, the female unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points to 6.9% in February. The female participation rate increased 0.5 percentage point to 57.5% and the female employment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 53.6%.
Employment decline in February was concentrated among older workers (with a smaller decline for youth), partially offset by higher employment for core-aged workers. Males reported employment decline that more than offset growth among females. Labour force growth was strongest for core-aged workers and females, with smaller gains among youth. Population growth was limited among all age and gender cohorts. Labour force growth outpaced population and employment growth among core-aged workers, resulting in higher unemployment and fewer persons not in the labour force. The opposite was true of the older age cohort, where labour force decline outpaced the employment decline, resulting in fewer unemployed and more persons not in the labour force.
Age and gender cohorts (February 2026 vs February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with February 2025, employment gains for core-aged and older workers more than offset the decline among youth. Employment gains were concentrated among males compared to one year ago. Labour force growth was reported for those aged 25-54 and males, while youth and older workers, as well as females, reported a smaller labour force compared to one year ago. Unemployment increases were concentrated among those aged 15 to 24 and females, with a smaller increase for those aged 25-54. Population growth among older workers primarily translated into more persons not in the labour force, as the labour force shrank and employment gains were limited. Females reported stronger population gains than males, though this translated entirely into more persons not in the labour force, while males reported labour force growth and fewer persons not in the labour force.
Age and gender cohorts (January-February 2026 vs January-February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
In the first two months of 2026, labour force and employment gains were concentrated among core-aged and older workers, as well as males, partially offset by declines among youth and females. Population growth among females with a decline in the labour force resulted in a larger number of persons not in the labour force, along with lower employment and higher unemployment. Males reported labour force growth that outpaced population growth, resulting in fewer persons not in the labour force. All age and gender cohorts reported higher unemployment, year-to-date.
Class of Worker and Industry (February 2026 vs January 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Employment decline in February was due to lower public sector employment (-1,400, -1.0%), partially offset by increased private sector workers (+500, +0.2%) and self-employment (+200, +0.4).
Classified by industry, the largest declines were among health care/social assistance and accommodation/food services. The largest increases in February were in wholesale/retail trade and transportation/warehousing.
Class of Worker and Industry (February 2026 vs February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to February 2025, employment increased for private sector workers (+1,700, +0.5%), and self-employment (+1,800, +3.3%), partially offset by lower public sector employment (-1,600, -1.1%).
Over the last 12 months, employment increased the most in professional/technical services, transportation/warehousing, personal/repair services, and health care/social assistance. Employment fell the most in wholesale/retail trade and accommodation/food services.
Class of Worker and Industry (January-February 2026 vs January-February 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared to January-February 2025, employment increased for self-employment (+2,100, +3.9%), partially offset by lower private sector (-500, -0.2%) and public sector employment (-1,400 , -1.0%).
Over the last 12 months, employment increased the most in health care/social assistance, personal/repair services, and professional/technical services. Employment fell the most in wholesale/retail trade and accommodation/food services.
Hours worked and employment (February 2026, unadjusted)
Compared to the provincial average, a larger share of workers in goods producing industries, transportation/warehousing, business support/call centres, finance/insurance/real estate, and personal/repair services worked more than 40 hours per week in February 2026.
Note that some data on those working few hours or more than 40 hours in utilities, forestry/fishing/mining and agriculture were suppressed.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, February 2026 vs February 2025)
Average weekly earnings increased by 4.5% from February 2025 to February 2026. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in agriculture, followed by personal/repair services, information/culture/recreation, finance/insurance/real estate, and professional/technical services. Declines in average weekly wages were reported in accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail trade, and health care/social assistance.
The increase in Nova Scotia's all items consumer price index was 2.7% from January 2025 to January 2026.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,230.12 in February 2026. The highest average weekly earnings (both full and part time employees) were reported in public administration, utilities, and professional/technical services. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail trade, and business support/call centres.
Average weekly earnings (unadjusted, both full time and part time, January-February 2026 vs January-February 2025)
Average weekly earnings increased by 5.4% in the first two months of 2026. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in agriculture, followed by personal/repair services, information/culture/recreation, and finance/insurance/real estate. Declines in average weekly wages were reported in accommodation/food services, health care/social assistance, forestry/fishing/mining, and wholesale/retail trade.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,234.25 in January-February 2026. The highest average weekly earnings (both full and part time employees) were reported in public administration, utilities, and professional/technical services. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail trade, and business support/call centres.
Regions (February 2026 vs February 2025, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with February 2025, population growth was primarily in Halifax, with smaller gains reported in the North Shore and Annapolis Valley regions and no growth in Cape Breton or Southern Nova Scotia. Labour force growth was concentrated in Halifax with smaller gains in Southern Nova Scotia. Halifax reported population and labour force gains that outpaced employment, resulting in a rise in the unemployed and, to a smaller degree, those not in the labour force. Cape Breton and Annapolis Valley reported both labour force and employment declines, with notable rises in those not in the labour force. North Shore reported higher employment on a smaller labour force, resulting in fewer unemployed and a higher number of those not in the labour force. Southern Nova Scotia reported marginal labour force growth with no population growth, drawing from those not in the labour force.
Unemployment rates rose in Cape Breton, Annapolis Valley and Halifax, while they declined on the North Shore and were unchanged in Southern Nova Scotia compared to February 2025.
Participation rates rose in Southern Nova Scotia and Halifax, while they declined in Cape Breton, the Annapolis Valley and North Shore regions.
Employment rates were up in North Shore and Southern Nova Scotia compared to one year ago.
Regions (January-February 2026 vs January-February 2025, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with January-February 2025, population growth was primarily in Halifax, with smaller gains reported in the North Shore and Annapolis Valley regions, with a marginal decline in Cape Breton. Labour force and employment growth were reported primarily in Halifax with smaller gains in Southern Nova Scotia. Cape Breton's labour force decline has outpaced the decline in employment, resulting in fewer unemployed and more persons not in the labour force. North Shore region reported no change in employment and a decline in the labour force, where population growth has largely translated into more persons not in the labour force. Employment decline outpaced labour force decline in the Annapolis Valley, amid an increase in population and more persons not in the labour force, with a smaller increase in unemployment. Southern Nova Scotia reported labour force growth with a marginal employment gain, resulting in more unemployed but fewer persons not in the labour force.
Provincial Comparisons (seasonally adjusted)
Canada's labour force fell 0.1% from January, with five provinces reporting declines in February 2026. The fastest decline was in Manitoba, while the fastest increase was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Compared with February 2025, the national labour force was up 0.4%, with every province except Ontario and British Columbia reporting growth. Alberta reported the fastest increase compared to one year ago.
Canada's employment fell 0.4% in February 2026, with seven provinces reporting declines. The fastest decline was in Québec, which was the first significant decline since January 2022. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the fastest growth.
Compared with February 2025, the national employment gain was 0.2% with seven provinces reporting growth. The fastest growth was in Alberta. Québec, Ontario and British Columbia were the only provinces to report year-over-year declines (all -0.4%).
The national unemployment rate was 6.7% in February 2026, up from 6.6% in February 2025. Saskatchewan had the lowest unemployment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest unemployment rate in January 2026.
The national participation rate was 64.9% in February 2026. The highest participation rate was in Alberta while the lowest was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national employment rate was 60.6% in February 2026. Alberta reported the highest employment rate while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.
In unadjusted results, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings grew by 4.5% year-over-year, the second fastest gain among provinces (tied with New Brunswick). National average weekly earnings were up 3.9% with gains in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador.
In the first two months of 2026, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings grew by 5.4% - the fastest growth among provinces. National average weekly earnings were up 3.4% in January-February 2026, with all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador reporting growth.
Census Metropolitan Areas (February 2026, seasonally adjusted 3 month moving average)
The Halifax & East Hants unemployment rate was 6.1% in the seasonally adjusted February 2026 three month moving average. Outside of Halifax & East Hants the unemployment rate was 7.7%. In central and western provinces, unemployment rates in Census Metropolitan Areas are similar to or higher than unemployment rates outside of CMAs. In the Atlantic Provinces unemployment rates are typically higher outside of CMAs.
Halifax & East Hant's participation rate was 68.3% in the seasonally adjusted February 2026 three month moving average, while participation rates were 54.1% across the rest of the province.
Halifax & East Hants reported an employment rate of 64.2% in the seasonally adjusted February 2026 three month moving average, while the employment rate was 49.9% 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: 14-10-0459-01 Labour force characteristics, three month moving average, seasonally adjusted (x 1,000)