Labour Market Monitor - Cape Breton
May 2010
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 labour market in Cape Breton expanded from May 2009 to May 2010. The labour force increased by 1,400 on a year over year basis. Employment increased by 1,200 over the same period, reflecting a rise in full time work of 1,300 and a small decrease in part time work. With the increase in the labour force being only marginally greater than the rise in employment, both the level of unemployment and the unemployment rate changed little from May 2009 to May 2010.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Cape Breton | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 210 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Labour Force (000) | 62.6 | 64.0 |
| Employed (000) | 51.8 | 53.0 |
| Full Time | 41.6 | 42.9 |
| Part Time | 10.3 | 10.1 |
| Unemployed (000) | 10.8 | 11.0 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 54.3 | 56.0 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 17.3 | 17.2 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Educational Services
The Strait Regional School Board stated that there would be 14 fewer teaching positions when the new school year begins in September 2010. Although no permanent or probationary teachers are expected to be let go, some may be displaced from their current assignments. Declining enrolment of students was cited as the main factor contributing to the loss of teaching positions. Port Hawkesbury Reporter, May 12, 2010
Manufacturing
New Page announced that its first quarter sales in 2010 had increased and that the company is not expecting to take any additional market related downtime. Decreased advertising spending and catalogue circulation affected net sales in the first quarter of last year. The industry experienced a 19 percent increase in coated paper sales volumes in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of last year. Port Hawkesbury Reporter, May 12, 2010
Protocase of Sydney is considering leasing a 5000 square foot space near its 10,000 square foot electronics casing manufacturing facility in the Harbourside Industrial Park within the next six to twelve months. The additional space would mean the company, which currently employs 48 people, would be looking to hire additional employees. Chronicle Herald, May 22, 2010
Information, Culture and Recreation
The Lakes Golf Club opened Friday, May 7 2010 in Ben Eion. The 18 hole course overlooking the Bras D'or lakes began construction in 2007. Cape Breton Post, May 8, 2010
Construction
The Northside Civic Centre could be ready to break ground in early June, which would have the construction timetable remain on schedule for opening the facility on March 1, 2011. Preparatory work is nearly complete on the $12 million project which is being built by Dora Construction Ltd. of Halifax. Cape Breton Post, May 21, 2010
Tourism
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will have its only Canadian stopover in Sydney on June 11, 2010. Multicultural festivals, concerts and other activities are planned for the eight day stopover. The event is expected to attract an estimated turnout of 30,000 people and result in millions in economic spin-off. Cape Breton Post, May 4, 2010
The tourism industry in Atlantic Canada will benefit from a renewed joint investment of more than $1 million over the next three years to support the TourismTechnology.com program, which is designed to encourage tourism operators to increase their use of technology. The focus is on education and helping tourism operators make informed decisions on their business practices and secure the benefits tied to the increased use and integration of technology in their operations. Cape Breton Post, May 19, 2010
Economy
Export Development Canada is forecasting Nova Scotia's international exports to rebound sharply this year with 12 percent growth. The forecast, released May 26, 2010 cites the improved demand from the United States as the reason for the growth in exports. Nova Scotia's main export sectors include natural gas, fish, tires and newsprint. Cape Breton Post, May 27, 2010
The Conference Board of Canada says Nova Scotia's real gross domestic product growth will be contained to 2.2 percent in 2010 and will drop to 1.9 percent in 2011. The economy will benefit from government stimulus spending early in the period, some revival in consumer demand and manufacturing, and medium sized construction projects. However, the winding down of construction on the Deep Panuke offshore project and of stimulus measures later in the period, and the rise in harmonized sales tax balance the outlook. Chronicle-Herald, May 11, 2010
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