Labour Market Monitor - Cape Breton
June 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 market showed no significant improvements in June 2011 compared to June 2010. Although the number of unemployed workers and the area's unemployment rate both dropped over the year, these declines were the result of a decrease in the number of workers in the labour force rather than any gains in employment. Employment levels actually declined by 2,100 over the 12 month period leaving the unemployment rate in Cape Breton for June 2011 at 15.2%.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Cape Breton | June | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 210 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Labour Force (000) | 65.8 | 63.0 |
| Employed (000) | 55.5 | 53.4 |
| Full Time | 45.8 | 43.2 |
| Part Time | 9.7 | 10.2 |
| Unemployed (000) | 10.3 | 9.6 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 58.0 | 56.1 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 15.7 | 15.2 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Business, Building and Other Support Services
Signature Styles contact centre in New Waterford has issued layoff notices to approximately 80 employees. The company attributed the layoffs to a combination of challenges that have limited their business options. Cape Breton Post, June 4, 2011
Health Care
The new 10 bed unit at the Foyer Pere Fiset nursing home in Cheticamp officially opened on June 28. The expansion of the facility has resulted in employment for eight additional staff. Cape Breton Post, June 29, 2011
Food Services
Italian Village Pizzeria of Sydney will close June 19, 2011 after approximately 31 years of operation. The closure will affect 9 staff at the restaurant. However, the facility will open in July 2011 under new ownership as The Olive Tree Pizzeria Bistro. The new restaurant is expected to employ 12 people. Cape Breton Post, June 8, 2011
Retail Trade
Bay Music of Glace Bay has closed after 10 years of operation. The closure was attributed to economic conditions. Cape Breton Post, June 10, 2011
Education
The Cape Breton Victoria District School Board announced that it will reinstate 14 laid off teachers to one year positions. The school board will also reinstate four laid off cleaners and reduce the number of laid off teacher assistants to 45 from the originally announced level of 50. The reinstatement of teaching positions resulted from leaves of absence and deferred leaves of teachers, as well as additional retirements. The reinstatement of CUPE positions resulted from using the Workforce Reduction Program offered by Service Canada. Cape Breton Post, June 29, 2011
Construction
The province of Nova Scotia announced $62 million in road and bridge work for Cape Breton as part of a five year highway improvement plan. Some of the major projects will include work on sections of the Cabot Trail in Victoria and Inverness Counties, work on Trunk 4 in Richmond County and Highway 125 in Cape Breton County. Cape Breton Post, June 8, 2011
Finance
East Coast Credit Union and Heritage Credit Union have received regulatory approval, as of July 1, to amalgamate As East Coast Credit Union. The amalgamated financial institution will have 30,000 members in Halifax Regional Municipality, Hants, Colchester, Antigonish, Guysborough, Inverness, Richmond and Victoria counties. (Chronicle Herald, June 23, 2011)
Economic
An RBC Provincial Outlook released this month is projecting that Nova Scotia's economy will grow by 1.7 percent in 2011, slightly lower than the growth experienced in 2010. Alberta and Newfoundland are placed well ahead of Nova Scotia, with projected growth levels of 4.3 percent and 4.0 percent respectively. With the start of several new major construction projects and an increase in energy production from the Deep Panuke offshore natural gas project, Nova Scotia is projected to grow by 2.0 percent in 2012. (Chronicle-Herald, June 10, 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 Working in Canada