Labour Market Monitor - Cape Breton
January 2011
This is an overview of the Cape Breton Region which includes Cape Breton, Inverness, Richmond and Victoria Counties. The Labour Market Monitor is a monthly report providing information on labour market developments for specific regions within the province.
Labour Force Trends
Employment in Cape Breton remained stable from January 2010 to January 2011, although this reflected an increase in full time employment of 2,200 that was offset completely by a decrease in part time work. With the labour force expanding by 1,000 on a year over year basis, the level of unemployment rose and the unemployment rate increased from 14.8 percent in January 2010 to 16.2 percent in January 2011.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Cape Breton | January | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 210 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Labour Force (000) | 60.7 | 61.7 |
| Employed (000) | 51.7 | 51.7 |
| Full Time | 39.9 | 42.1 |
| Part Time | 11.8 | 9.6 |
| Unemployed (000) | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 53.3 | 54.7 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 14.8 | 16.2 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Mining
Chapman and Sons of PEI plans to operate a rock blasting and crushing operation at Sporting Mountain in Richmond County. A related company had taken rock and gravel from the Sporting Mountain site last summer for use in two highway construction projects in Cape Breton. The company has received permission to operate temporarily, but will require approval from the Department of Environment to keep it open. The aggregate from the site is used in asphalt and also as grading and road shoulder gravel. The company plans to operate year round. Cape Breton Post, January 10 2011.
Construction
The Charles Forest Cooperative in Arichat is underway with its expansion project that will increase its surface area to 6500 square feet. The expansion will also allow for the relocation of Arichat's NSLC store, which will take up 2700 sq. ft. of the redesigned Co-op. The expansion may lead to an additional two employees for the facility, which presently employs 14. Port Hawkesbury Reporter, January 12, 2011
Work on the project to replace the tracks which shoulder the gates of the Canso Canal at Port Hastings is in its final three months. An on-site workforce that reaches 12 people at peak includes employees from Leslie and Benn Contracting Limited. Port Hawkesbury Reporter, January 5, 2011
The province of Nova Scotia announced that it will be spending $2 million over the next two years to build affordable homes for low income earners in the Sydney area. Cape Breton Post, January 17, 2011
Information, Culture & Recreation
The 2010 Celtic Colours International Festival reported an increase in attendance and estimated more than $6 million in direct spending by festival-goers. A total of 18,000 tickets were sold and attendance at community events was 15,400. Festival officials reported that 54 percent of the audience came from outside of Cape Breton. Cape Breton Post, January 12, 2011
Ascendo Fitness opened its new facility in Sydney. The new facility has eleven employees. Cape Breton Post, January 11, 2011
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
Cape Breton University and the five First Nation communities in Cape Breton, along with the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office have formed a partnership that will focus on creating economic opportunities in the field of energy and environmental sustainability. The partnership has created two job opportunities for local aboriginal people as part of the research team at CBU's new Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment. The $20 million environmental research centre is under construction and is expected to be open sometime this spring. Cape Breton Post, January 7, 2011
Public Administration
Service Canada will close its Community Offices on the island at the end of March, 2011. The Community Offices provide services on behalf of Service Canada and are managed through a contract for services or a collaborative arrangement with a community service provider or other non Government of Canada organization. Each office employs a full time service delivery representative. Inverness Oran, January 26, 2011
Education
Potlotek First Nation (Chapel Island) will operate a high school program beginning February 4, 2011. Potlotek High School was approved at a band council meeting January 19. Cape Breton Post, January 27, 2011
Health Care
The Cape Breton District Health Authority opened the PRE-HAB Hip and Knee clinic on Upper Prince St. in Sydney. Patients are referred six months to a year before surgery to the education and exercise program that helps them prepare for hip or knee replacement surgery. The clinic employs 6 people, including a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietitian and registered nurse. Inverness Oran, January 26, 2011
Note: In preparing this document, Service Canada has taken care to provide clients with labour market information from reliable sources that is timely and accurate at the time of publication. Since labour market conditions are dynamic, some of the information presented here may have changed since this document was published. Users are encouraged to also refer to other sources for additional information on the local economy and labour market. Information contained in this document does not necessarily reflect official policies of Service Canada.For more information contact: ns-info-ne@servicecanada.gc.ca or visit our website at www.labourmarketinformation.ca