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September 04, 2026LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, AUGUST 2026 
MONTH OVER MONTH (August 2026 vs July 2026, seasonally adjusted)
In Nova Scotia,
- The labour force increased 2,100 (+0.4%) to 575,700
- Employment increased 2,600 (+0.5%) to 540,500
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 400 (-1.1%) to 35,300
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 6.1%
In Canada,
- The labour force decreased 36,800 (-0.2%) to 22,632,600
- Employment decreased 41,700 (-0.2%) to 21,173,100
- The number of unemployed persons increased 4,800 (+0.3%) to 1,459,500
- The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.4%
In the Halifax and East Hants Census Metropolitan Area, (3-month moving average)
- The labour force increased 1,200 (+0.4%) to 315,400
- Employment increased 1,500 (+0.5%) to 297,900
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 400 (-2.2%) to 17,400
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 5.5%
YEAR OVER YEAR (August 2026 vs August 2025)
In Nova Scotia,
- The labour force increased 15,400 (+2.7%)
- Employment increased 16,600 (+3.2%)
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 1,100 (-3.0%)
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.4 percentage points
In Canada,
- The labour force increased 86,000 (+0.4%)
- Employment increased 216,500 (+1.0%)
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 130,600 (-8.2%)
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.7 percentage points
In the Halifax and East Hants Census Metropolitan Area, (3-month moving average)
- The labour force increased 3,800 (+1.2%)
- Employment increased 3,900 (+1.3%)
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 300 (-1.7%)
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points
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