Labour Market Bulletin - Cape Breton
May 2009*
Overview
(Source: http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm)
The number of full-time jobs increased during May and offset a decline in part-time positions to result in greater overall employment in Cape Breton. Unemployment rose marginally though, because of a labour force increase and the unemployment rate remained unchanged. Employment normally increases in May on the Island because of seasonal activities associated with the Spring and Summer months.
Employment is substantially lower than it was in May last year, however, and most of the jobs lost over the last 12 months were full-time. The decline in employment over this period of time exceeds a labour force decline so that unemployment is higher this May as is the unemployment rate.
Industry Analysis
Over the month, employment declines in Construction and Manufacturing weren’t great enough to reduce Goods Sector employment. Job gains in the primary industries positioned May’s Goods Sector employment level above that of April.
Employment in the sector is down from May of 2008, however, with reductions occurring over the 12 month period in every industry group. Overall Goods Sector employment this month is the lowest for any May since at least 1987 as it is for Manufacturing.
Service Sector employment is up from the previous month because of gains in Other Services; Accommodation & Food Services; Transportation & Warehousing; Health Care and Public Administration. Education; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; and Finance, Insurance, Real Estate & Leasing recorded losses for May.
As with the Goods Sector, Service Sector employment is below that of a year ago in May. The largest declines occurred in Other Services; Transportation & Warehousing; and Educational 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
Ron May Pontiac Buick GMC of Sydney and Highland Chevrolet of Glace Bay are two Cape Breton General Motors dealerships that will end their franchise agreements under GM’s recently announced restructuring plan. GM announced the end of franchise agreements with approximately 245 dealers across Canada. The automaker will continue its relationship with MacIntyre Chevrolet of Sydney. Cape Breton Post, May 25, 2009
The Keata Pharma pharmaceutical plant in North Sydney officially ceased operations on May 8, 2009. The company was located in the Northside Industrial Park had employed approximately 65 people. Approximately 26 employees remained after a layoff in January 2009. Cape Breton Post, May 9, 2009
The Strait Regional School Board plans to reduce its teaching staff by 18 in the fall of 2009. Declining enrolment and increasing costs are the primary reasons cited for the reductions. Cape Breton Post, May 7, 2009
New Page of Point Tupper and Strait Bio-Gen Ltd. have partnered with Nova Scotia Power Inc. on a proposal for a biomass power project that would see a 60 megawatt biomass-fuelled electrical generation facility at the New Page site. The potential project would produce power for Nova Scotia Power. The potential project would create jobs in the two year construction phase, and would result in an estimated 115 jobs in the forest industry and an estimated 40 potential jobs in the expansion of the sawmill industry. The application will be reviewed by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board and a hearing on the matter is scheduled for mid June. Port Hawkesbury Reporter, May 13, 2009
Nova Scotia Power announced that it will invest $1 million in the dredging of Sydney Harbour, should that project proceed. The dredging project would deepen the shipping channel in Sydney Harbour's outer channel and is a precondition for the construction of a proposed new container terminal at Sydport. Cape Breton Post, May 14,2009
The first of 44 cruise ships arrived at the Port of Sydney on May 16. The Maasdam, with an estimated 1266 passengers and 557 crew members, is scheduled for 16 visits to the Port. The 2009 cruise ship season will be at its peak in the fall, with 33 ships scheduled in September and October. Cape Breton Post, May 16, 2009
For more information please contact . . .
Gary Hartlin
Economist
99 Wyse Road, P.O. Box 1350
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4B9
(902) 426-5561
E-Mail: gary.hartlin@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