For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
June 05, 2026LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, MAY 2026 
MONTH OVER MONTH (May 2026 vs April 2026, seasonally adjusted)
In Nova Scotia,
- The labour force increased 4,600 (+0.8%) to 569,100
- Employment decreased 200 (-0.04%) to 528,500
- The number of unemployed persons increased 4,700 (+13.1%) to 40,500
- The unemployment rate increased 0.8 percentage points to 7.1%
In Canada,
- The labour force increased 3,800 (+0.02%) to 22,603,900
- Employment increased 87,800 (+0.4%) to 21,121,500
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 84,000 (-5.4%) to 1,482,400
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.3 percentage points to 6.6%
In Halifax and East Hants Census Metropolitan Area, (3-month moving average)
- The labour force decreased 1,500 (-0.5%) to 315,800
- Employment decreased 700 (-0.2%) to 297,700
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 800 (-4.2%) to 18,100
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.3 percentage points to 5.7%
YEAR OVER YEAR (May 2026 vs May 2025)
In Nova Scotia,
- The labour force increased 6,200 (+1.1%)
- Employment increased 2,300 (+0.4%)
- The number of unemployed persons increased 3,700 (+10.1%)
- The unemployment rate increased 0.6 percentage points
In Canada,
- The labour force increased 58,500 (+0.3%)
- Employment increased 147,100 (+0.7%)
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 88,600 (-5.6%)
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.4 percentage points
In Halifax and East Hants Census Metropolitan Area, (3-month moving average)
- The labour force increased 4,200 (+1.3%)
- Employment increased 3,800 (+1.3%)
- The number of unemployed persons increased 400 (+2.3%)
- The unemployment rate was unchanged
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months; Table 14-10-0459-01 Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted