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

MONTH OVER MONTH (October 2025 vs September 2025, seasonally adjusted)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force decreased 1,600 (-0.3%) to 558,700
• Employment decreased 4,400 (-0.8%) to 521,000
• The number of unemployed persons increased 2,800 (+8.0%) to 37,600
• The unemployment rate increased 0.5 percentage points to 6.7%

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 17,300 (+0.1%) to 22,639,100
• Employment increased 66,600 (+0.3%) to 21,081,900
• The number of unemployed persons decreased 49,200 (-3.1%) to 1,557,300
• The unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 6.9%

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

• The labour force decreased 1,000 (-0.3%) to 311,600
• Employment decreased 1,400 (-0.5%) to 293,400
• The number of unemployed persons increased 400 (+2.2%) to 18,200
• The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 5.8%

YEAR OVER YEAR (October 2025 vs October 2024)

In Nova Scotia,

• The labour force increased 3,700 (+0.7%)
• Employment increased 800 (+0.2%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 2,900 (+8.4%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.4 percentage points

In Canada, 

• The labour force increased 380,100 (+1.7%)
• Employment increased 299,300 (+1.4%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 81,000 (+5.5%)
• The unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points

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

• The labour force increased 3,400 (+1.1%)
• Employment increased 2,400 (+0.8%)
• The number of unemployed persons increased 1,000 (+5.8%)
• The unemployment rate increased 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