gov.ns.ca - Nova Scotia Canada - Government of Nova Scotia

MONTH OVER MONTH (August 2025 vs July 2025, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force decreased 4,200 (-0.7%) to 560,500
• Employment decreased 1,300 (-0.2%) to 524,100
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 2,900 (-7.4%) to 36,400
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage points to 6.5%

In Canada, 

• The labour force decreased 31,200 (-0.1%) to 22,549,500
• Employment decreased 65,500 (-0.3%) to 20,954,900
• The number of unemployed persons increased 34,400 (+2.2%) to 1,594,600
• The unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 7.1%

In Halifax and East Hants Census Metropolitan Area,  (3-month moving average) 

• The labour force increased 700 (+0.2%) to 312,000
• Employment decreased 200 (-0.1%) to 294,200
• The number of unemployed persons increased 900 (+5.3%) to 17,800
• The unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 5.7%

YEAR OVER YEAR (August 2025 vs August 2024)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force increased 3,900 (+0.7%)
• Employment increased 4,300 (+0.8%)
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 400 (-1.1%)
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 328,600 (+1.5%)
• Employment increased 212,300 (+1.0%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 116,300 (+7.9%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.4 percentage points

In Halifax and East Hants Census Metropolitan Area,  (3-month moving average) 

• The labour force increased 4,900 (+1.6%)
• Employment increased 4,700 (+1.6%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 200 (+1.1%)
• 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