Labour Market Monitor - Cape Breton
March 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
The Cape Breton labour force increased by 2,000 from March 2010 to March 2011. Over the same period, employment increased slightly, reflecting growth in full time work of 1,600 that was offset by a decrease in part time work of 1,100. With labour force growth greater than the rise in employment, the number of unemployed increased on a year over year basis and the unemployment rate rose to 18.0 percent from 16.0 percent in the same month last year.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Cape Breton | March | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 210 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Labour Force (000) | 58.6 | 60.6 |
| Employed (000) | 49.2 | 49.8 |
| Full Time | 39.0 | 40.6 |
| Part Time | 10.3 | 9.2 |
| Unemployed (000) | 9.4 | 10.9 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 51.6 | 53.8 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 16.0 | 18.0 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Manufacturing
The provincial government's adoption of Techlink's My Play System card for video lottery terminals in Nova Scotia could result in increased business for the Sydney based company. The system will become mandatory for playing VLTs in Nova Scotia in 2012. Techlink currently employs 70 but hopes to expand to 300 in the next 36 months. Cape Breton Post, March 30, 2011
Education
Cape Breton University and NSCC Marconi campus of Sydney both received funding from the federal government (through ECBC) that will allow for future development. CBU will acquire dynamic simulation models and equipment to support training of employees in the energy sector. NSCC will purchase equipment and complete campus renovations in order to institute a new two-year fitter/welder program. Cape Breton Post, March 24, 2011
Retail Trade
Port Honda opened in Port Hawkesbury on March 1. The full- service Honda dealership is located on MacInnis Road in the business park and employs 10 people. Cape Breton Post, March 31, 2011
Construction
Construction of the new bridge in Little Brasd'Or is underway and is expected to be completed by October 2011. Z.T. Van Zutphen of Mabou was awarded the $10.2 million tender to construct the new bridge connecting Boularderie Island with Bras d'Or. Municipal Ready Mix of Sydney has the contract to build the new railway bridge, and a third contract will be issued for the removal of the existing railway bridge and final paving of the entire project. Cape Breton Post, March 25, 2011
Transportation
The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board will allow Acadian Lines to reduce its bus service between Halifax and Sydney from three to two trips daily. Acadian stated in its application that the reason for proposed changes is a significant reduction in ridership and consequently revenues. Cape Breton Post, March 15, 2011
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
MediaSpark and IBM have won an Ontario Ministry of Education tender to supply 900 schools with software that provides students from grades 7 to 12 with realistic simulations focusing on entrepreneurship, accounting, financial literacy and personal finance skills. Chronicle Herald, March 24, 2011.
The federal government announced a $1.7 million investment in B.W. Bioenergy of Sydney, which is a newly established company hoping to develop green carbons. The company focuses on sustainable energy technologies and environmental management and is proposing the development, evaluation and commercialization of green energy fuels. The main objective of the research is to develop cost effective, integrated supply chain approaches from biomass collection to production. The prototype development of a production technology will also be a key part of the project. Cape Breton Post, March 21, 2011.
Recreation
The Cabot Links in Inverness will open on July 1, 2011, with 10 of the 18 holes available for play for the summer of 2011. Cabot Links is currently getting the course ready and are hiring 50 people to be ready for operations on July 1. The club house is presently under construction and is being built by PCL Construction. Inverness Oran, March 23, 2011.
Tourism
A total of 52 cruise ships are scheduled to visit the Port of Sydney in 2011 with the first arriving on April 18. There were 46 cruise ship calls at the port in 2010 and the Sydney Ports Corporation estimated a 30 percent increase in the passenger count in 2011 over the previous year. The final visit for this season is scheduled for October 25, 2011. Cape Breton Post, March 5, 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