Labour Market Monitor - Cape Breton
May 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 declined by 1,400 from May 2010 to May 2011, with the decrease being primarily in part time work. Over the same period, the labour force fell by 1,900. With the labour force decreasing faster than employment, the level of unemployment fell on a year over year basis, and the unemployment rate dropped marginally on a year over year basis. Currently, the unemployment rate in Cape Breton is 17 percent.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Cape Breton | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 210 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Labour Force (000) | 63.2 | 61.3 |
| Employed (000) | 52.4 | 51.0 |
| Full Time | 42.4 | 42.0 |
| Part Time | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Unemployed (000) | 10.8 | 10.4 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 55.7 | 54.5 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 17.1 | 17.0 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Retail Trade
Harbax Home Building Centre in Glace Bay has undergone an expansion, resulting in more floor space and a larger lumber yard. The expansion has resulted in an increase in staff to 30, which is double the previous level before the expansion. Cape Breton Post, May 20, 2011
Health Care
Cara House, the new 39 bed expansion at the Northside Community Guest Home, had its official opening May 30, 2011. The expansion has created an estimated 75 jobs and brought employment at the facility to over 300 people. Cape Breton Post, May 31, 2011
MacLeod Group Incorporated has purchased the former Alderwood Rest Home building and has begun renovations on assisted living apartments. The new assisted living facility, Aros Bhadaig, will feature 35 apartments and is expected to be ready by late fall of this year. Cape Breton Post, May 9, 2011
Economic
The provincial government announced that the minimum wage in Nova Scotia will increase to $10 an hour as of October 1, 2011. The current rate is $9.65 per hour. Cape Breton Post, May 11, 2011
Education
The Nova Scotia Department of Education Minister announced that the police officers in Cape Breton- Victoria Regional School Board area schools will remain next year. The school board had previously announced that it was cutting the police liaison program at five schools for the 2011-12 school year. Cape Breton Post, May 14, 2011
The Nova Scotia Community College Strait campus in Port Hawkesbury announced that the third edition of its Licensed Practical Nursing program will be offered in January 2012, which is eight months earlier than originally anticipated. The acceleration in the program offering is due to demand for LPNs in the Strait region. The two year program began in 2008, with all of its graduates finding employment and the second program has 27 students preparing to graduate in December of 2011. Port Hawkesbury Reporter, May 25, 2011
Utilities
Highland Power Co. Inc. is proposing a huge wind farm project for the Cape Breton Highlands. If built, the project could eventually result in a total investment of $2 to $3.5 billion. In addition to construction jobs, the proposed project would create continuing employment to monitor and service the turbines, control vegetation and for administration and management. The wind farm project proposes to generate between 100 and 300 megawatts of electricity. Cape Breton Post, May 17, 2011
Food Services
The Belle View Restaurant in Belle Cote held their official opening on May 21, 2011. Inverness Oran, May 25, 2011.
Manufacturing
New Page of Point Tupper hired 65 people in 2010 and to date in 2011 they have hired 34 people. The hiring was done in response to company demographics and retirements. The company stated that they expect to hire more throughout 2011 and 2012 as employees retire. Port Hawkesbury Reporter, May 18 2011
Fire House Iron Works, a traditional blacksmith work shop, opened on Main St. in Whycocomagh. Inverness Oran, May 11, 2011
Other Services
Strait Area Women's Place opened in the Professional Building on Church St. in Port Hawkesbury on May 13. The centre is a joint project of Leeside Transition House and the Antigonish Women's Resource Centre, and both will be providing staff for the project. Inverness Oran, May 4, 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