November 06, 2026LABOUR MARKET TRENDS, OCTOBER 2026 October labour force survey results reflect the period from October 11 to 17, 2026.
Ages 15+ (October 2026 vs September 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employment increased by 2,300 (+0.4%) to 543,000. This follows an increase of 0.04% (+200) in September.
The change in employment reflected a decline in full-time employment (-2,700), which was offset by a gain in part-time employment (+5,000). Note that changes in full-time and part-time employment can also reflect changing hours for the same job.
Nova Scotia's labour force increased by 1,800 (+0.3%) to 578,900 in October 2026.
With employment growth outpacing labour force gains, the number of unemployed persons decreased by 500 (-1.4%). Nova Scotia's unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point to 6.2% in October 2026.
Nova Scotia's participation rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4%, while the employment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 58.5 %.
Ages 15+ (October 2026 vs October 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with October 2025, Nova Scotia's working age population increased by 11,500 (+1.3%), while the labour force rose by 19,800 (+3.5%) and employment increased by 21,600 (+4.1%). The number of unemployed persons was down 1,800 (-4.8%), and the unemployment rate fell 0.5 percentage points to 6.2%. The participation rate increased by 1.4 percentage points while the employment rate rose by 1.6 percentage points.
Ages 15+ (January-October 2026 vs January-October 2025, seasonally adjusted)
On a year-to-date basis (January-October 2026 vs January-October 2025), Nova Scotia's working age population increased by 10,400 (+1.1%), while the labour force rose by 10,200 (+1.8%), and employment rose by 9,800 (+1.9%). Full-time employment increased by 5,800 (+1.3%) and part-time employment was up 4,000 (+4.6%). The unemployment rate was slightly down (-0.04 percentage points) to 6.5%, while both the participation rate and employment rate increased by 0.4 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 (October 2026 vs September 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Among youth (ages 15-24), employment declined by 3,000 (-4.1%) while the labour force fell by 2,300 (-2.8%). With employment decline outpacing labour force decline, the youth unemployment rate increased by 1.2 percentage points to 12.0% in October 2026. The youth participation rate dropped 1.9 percentage points to 67.1% while the youth employment rate decreased 2.6 percentage points to 59.0%.
The population aged 25-54 makes up the largest part of the labour force. In the core age group, employment grew by 3,600 (+1.0%) while the labour force rose by 1,800 (+0.5%). With employment rising faster than the labour force, the core-aged unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 percentage points to 5.4% in October 2026. The core-aged participation rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 88.6% while the employment rate rose 0.8 percentage points to 83.9%.
Among older workers (aged 55+), employment increased by 1,600 (+1.4%) while the labour force rose by 2,200 (+1.8%). With labour force rising faster than employment, the older worker unemployment rate increased 0.4 percentage points to 5.0% in October 2026. The older worker participation rate increased 0.6 percentage points to 32.5% while the employment rate up 0.4 percentage points to 30.9%.
Males and Females (Ages 15+, October 2026 vs September 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Monthly employment increased by 800 (+0.3%) for males while the labour force rose by 1,100 (+0.4%) from September. With labour force growth slightly outpacing employment gains, the male unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 6.6% in October. The male participation rate and employment rate both increased 0.1 percentage points to 66.2% and 61.9% respectively.
Females reported a labour force increase of 700 (+0.3%) and an employment gain of 1,500 (+0.6%). With employment gain faster than the labour force, the female unemployment rate decreased 0.4 percentage points to 5.7% in October. The female participation rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 58.7% while the employment rate rose 0.3 percentage points to 55.3%.
Age and gender cohorts (October 2026 vs September 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Monthly employment gains were concentrated among core-aged and older workers, with increases among both females and males, while youth employment declined. Labour force growth was strongest among older and core-aged workers and males, while the youth labour force declined. Unemployment rose among youth, older workers and males, but fell among core-aged workers and females. Youth were the only group to record a monthly increase in the number of people not in labour force.
Age and gender cohorts (October 2026 vs October 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with October 2025, employment gains were concentrated among youth, core-aged workers, males and females. Older workers reported an employment decline. Labour force growth was strongest among core-aged workers and females. Unemployment declined among youth, core-aged workers, older workers and males compared with one year ago, while it increased among females. Older workers were the only group to report a larger number of persons not in the labour force.
Age and gender cohorts (January-October 2026 vs January-October 2025, seasonally adjusted)
In the first ten months of 2026, labour force and employment gains were concentrated among core-aged workers and males. Population growth among older workers and decline in the labour force resulted in a larger number of persons not in the labour force, along with higher unemployment. Males reported labour force growth that outpaced population growth, resulting in less unemployment and fewer persons not in the labour force. Unemployment increases were concentrated among females.
Class of Worker and Industry (October 2026 vs September 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Employment gains in October were concentrated among the self-employed (+3,400; +5.7%) and private sector workers (+1,200; +0.3%), while public sector employment declined by 2,300 (-1.7%).
Classified by industry, the largest monthly employment gains were in transportation/warehousing and wholesale/retail trade. The largest declines were in construction and business support/call centres.
Class of Worker and Industry (October 2026 vs October 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with October 2025, employment increased among private sector workers (+18,600; +5.7%) and the self-employed (+6,400; +11.4%), while public sector employment fell (-3,400; -2.5%).
The largest employment gains were reported in professional/technical services, health care/social assistance, and wholesale/retail trade. Employment declines were reported in public administration, information/culture/recreation, business support/call centres, and utilities.
Class of Worker and Industry (January-October 2026 vs January-October 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Compared with January-October 2025, employment increased among private sector workers (+8,400; +2.6%) and the self-employed (+3,100; +5.8%), while public sector employment declined by 1,800 (-1.3%).
On a year-to-date basis, employment gains were concentrated in professional/ technical services, transportation/warehousing, and health care and social assistance. The largest employment declines were in wholesale/retail trade and information/culture/recreation.
Hours worked and employment (October 2026, unadjusted)
Compared to the provincial average, a larger share of workers in goods producing industries, as well as transportation/warehousing worked more than 40 hours per week in October 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, October 2026 vs October 2025)
Average weekly earnings increased by 2.1% from October 2025 to October 2026. The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were in forestry/fishing/mining, wholesale/retail trade and utilities. Declines in average weekly wages were fastest in information/culture/recreation, personal/repair services, and transportation/warehousing.
The increase in Nova Scotia's all items consumer price index was 5.6% from September 2025 to September 2026.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,248.13 in October 2026. The highest average weekly earnings were reported in forestry/fishing/mining, professional/technical services, utilities, and public administration 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-October 2026 vs January-October 2025)
Average weekly earnings increased by 3.8% in the first ten months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
The fastest gains in average weekly earnings were reported in agriculture, personal/repair services, construction, and forestry/fishing/mining. Average weekly earnings declined in information/culture/recreation, accommodation/food services, health care/social assistance, and transportation/warehousing.
Average weekly earnings across all employees were $1,236.98 in January-October 2026. The highest average weekly earnings were reported in utilities, professional/technical services, public administration, and forestry/fishing/mining. The lowest average weekly earnings were in accommodation/food services, wholesale/retail trade, and business support/call centres.
Regions (October 2026 vs October 2025, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with October 2025, all regions reported population growth, with the largest increase in Halifax. Labour force and employment growth were strongest in Halifax and North Shore. Cape Breton and Annapolis Valley also reported employment growth that exceeded labour force growth, resulting in fewer unemployed persons and fewer persons not in labour force.
Southern Nova Scotia was the only region to report declines in both labour force and employment, resulting in higher unemployment and more persons not in labour force. In Halifax, labour force and employment both increased, though employment growth outpaced labour force gains, resulting in less unemployed persons and fewer persons not in labour force.
Unemployment rates declined in all regions except Southern Nova Scotia compared to October 2025.
Participation and employment rates increased in all regions except Southern Nova Scotia compared with one year ago.
Regions (January-October 2026 vs January-October 2025, unadjusted 3 month moving average)
Compared with January-October 2025, population growth was primarily in Halifax, with smaller gains reported in all other regions. In Halifax, labour force growth outpaced employment gains, resulting in more unemployed persons and more persons not in labour force. Employment rose more slowly than labour force in the Annapolis Valley, resulting in more persons unemployed and fewer not in the labour force. The North Shore region reported employment growth that outpaced labour force gains, resulting in fewer unemployed persons and fewer not in the labour force. Cape Breton reported decline in labour force and a slight gain in employment, resulting in fewer unemployed persons and more persons not in the labour force. Southern Nova Scotia reported little change in population, labour force and unemployment, with employment and not in labour force essentially unchanged.
Provincial Comparisons (seasonally adjusted)
Canada's labour force edged up 0.1% from September to October 2026. Eight provinces reported labour force growth, led by Saskatchewan. The declines were reported in in Québec and Prince Edward Island.
Compared with October 2025, Canada's labour force was down 0.1%, despite gains in seven provinces. The fastest increase was reported in Nova Scotia while the fastest decline was reported in Québec.
Canada's employment declined by 0.02% in October 2026, despite gains in seven provinces. The fastest decline was in Prince Edward Island, while the fastest gain was in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Compared with October 2025, national employment was up 0.1%, with gains in nine provinces. Nova Scotia reported the fastest employment growth. Québec was the only province to report employment decline.
The national unemployment rate was 6.7% in October 2026, down from 6.9% in October 2025. Manitoba reported the lowest unemployment rate, while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest.
Canada's participation rate was 64.8% in October 2026. Alberta reported the highest participation rate, while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.
Canada's employment rate was 60.5% in October 2026. Alberta reported the highest employment rate, while Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest.
In unadjusted results, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings increased by 2.1% year-over-year. National average weekly earnings were up 2.6% with gains in all provinces.
In the first ten months of 2026, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings grew by 3.8%. National average weekly earnings were up 3.3% in January-October 2026, with all provinces reporting growth.
Census Metropolitan Areas (October 2026, seasonally adjusted 3 month moving average)
The Halifax & East Hants unemployment rate was 5.4% in the seasonally adjusted October 2026 three-month moving average. Outside Halifax & East Hants, the unemployment rate was 7.2%.
Halifax & East Hants reported a participation rate of 68.7% compared with 55.7% for the rest of Nova Scotia.
The employment rate in Halifax & East Hants was 65.0%, while the employment rate for the remainder of the province was 51.7%.
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 14-10-0459-01 Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0462-01 Labour force characteristics by economic region, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality; 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)