News release

Employment Reaches Record High in May

Finance and Treasury Board

Employment in Nova Scotia reached a new high of 468,900 jobs in May, the highest employment ever recorded in Nova Scotia.

New data release by Statistics Canada today, June 7, shows an increase of 14,600 jobs compared with May 2018, resuming a trend of rising employment that started in summer 2018. Employment has grown in nine of the last 12 months.

“We are pleased to see continued positive signs for economic growth in the province,” said Finance and Treasury Board Minister Karen Casey. “Employment is currently the highest on record while the labour force continues to grow.”

The unemployment rate was 6.5 per cent in May. Unemployment rates have remained below seven per cent in every month of 2019. This year Nova Scotia’s average unemployment rates are at their lowest levels since the monthly labour force survey started in 1976.

Improvements in the unemployment rate have been concentrated among youth aged 15-24 and workers aged 25-54. The youth unemployment rate has declined substantially in recent months, falling to 11.1 per cent in May, the lowest since July 2008. Youth employment is up 6,400 jobs since May 2018. Employment among workers aged 25-54 is up 5,900 jobs since May 2018, bringing their unemployment rate down to 5.1 per cent.

More information on recent labour market results for Nova Scotia is available at https://www.novascotia.ca/finance/statistics/news.asp?id=14884 .