Labour Market Bulletin - Cape Breton
April 2009*
Overview
(Source: http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm)
The unemployment rate in April rose to 17.3 percent from the previous month. The level of unemployment rose but, on the positive side, there was an increase in employment as well. The employment increase was mostly full-time employment, partially offset by a decline in part-time employment. Both the level and rate of labour force participation rose during this period. Seasonal labour market downturns typically end between March and April in Cape Breton.
The rise in the unemployment rate from April 2008 was more substantial, increasing by 2.1 percentage points. Over this period there was a large drop in employment and a significant rise in unemployment. Both full-time and part-time employment declined, as did both the level and rate of labour force participation. While the monthly data between March and April of 2009 has improved, on a year-over-year basis the labour force and employment have fallen while unemployment has risen in each of the first four months of 2009. This is an indication of negative effects from the economic downturn.
Industry Analysis
Between March and April 2009 there was slight employment growth in both the Goods-Producing and Service-Producing Sectors. Within the Goods Sector, Manufacturing rose while Construction fell, offsetting each other. There was employment growth in the non-agricultural Primary Industries. Within the Services Sector, the largest employment increases were in Trade and Accommodation & Food Services. The largest employment declines were in Educational Services and Health Care & Social Services.
*This report is an analysis of three month moving average data from Statistics Canada’s monthly Labour Force Survey. The reader should be cautioned that because of relatively small sample sizes in subprovincial regions, data reliability might be an issue.
In the News
Funding was announced for the Northside Civic Centre in North Sydney. The 800 seat facility will feature an NHL sized ice surface, multipurpose rooms, kitchen facilities and a walking track around the perimeter of the building. The centre will begin construction within the next few months and is scheduled to open in September 2010. Cape Breton Post, April 17, 2009.
Casino Nova Scotia has reduced its workforce by 16 or more part-time and full-time positions effective immediately in its Sydney and Halifax operations. A company official cited a poor economy as the reason for the layoffs. Cape Breton Post, April 14, 2009.
Cape Breton Regional - Victoria Regional School Board is scheduled to receive $41.23 million in provincial funding for renovations to eight schools. The Centre scolaire Etoile de l'Acadie in Sydney will also receive $2.42 in funding for renovation work. The funding announcements are part of a $300 million funding promise from the provincial government. Cape Breton Post, April 15, 2009.
The Keata Pharma pharmaceutical plant in North Sydney announced that it will close on May 8, 2009. The company had laid off 20 of the initial 60 employees in August 2008, and with the most recent layoffs in January there are about 26 people employed at the plant. Cape Breton Post, April 24, 2009.
The province of Nova Scotia has granted approval to the Sydney harbour dredging proposal, following their environmental assessment. The project is also subject to a federal environmental assessment before any work could proceed. The proposed $200 million project would involve dredging Sydney harbour and building a container terminal. Cape Breton Post, April 29, 2009
For more information please contact . . .
Barry J. Soper
Economist
99 Wyse Road, P.O. Box 1350
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4B9
(902) 426-5590
E-Mail: barry.soper@servicecanada.gc.ca
Web Site: www.labourmarketinformation.ca
Labour Market Information Unit
Cape Breton Network
15 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
(902) 564-7238
E-mail: ns-info-ne@servicecanada.gc.ca
Web site: www.labourmarketinformation.ca