Labour Market Update - Cape Breton

August, 2009*

Overview 

(Source: http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm)

Summer Improvements in Cape Breton but 2009 Below 2008 Levels

  • The Cape Breton labour market continued to experience seasonal improvements in August with rising employment levels, lower unemployment and unemployment rates.  While there was growth in full-time employment, losses in part-time employment reduced overall net employment gains.
  • While unemployment has been on an eight year downward trend during the month of August, the situation reversed between August 2008 and 2009.  Unemployment levels in the first eight months of 2009 have been above monthly levels compared to the previous four years.
  • August employment fell from August 2008 levels, flattening the long-term upward trend in employment.
  • Goods-Producing Sector employment is at a lower level than in the previous four years.  Employment in the Services-Producing sector is higher relative to previous years.

In the News – Cape Breton

Statistics related to tourism are showing that the economic downturn is having an effect on Nova Scotia tourism.  Between January and May 2009, there has been a seven percent drop in visitors to the province from the same period in 2008.  Air travel is off by 24 percent and room nights sold are down eight percent.  Cape Breton Post, August 5, 2009
 
Cape Breton Regional Police officers have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Under the terms of the agreement, officers will receive a 13 per cent wage increase over the life of the agreement which is retroactive to January 2008. The NSGEU represents approximately 200 employees of the Cape Breton municipal police service.  Cape Breton Post, August 20, 2009
 
The Cape Breton Christian School will open on September 3, 2009 in Sydney Mines.  The new school will have four full time teachers and will be open to students from Primary to Grade 10.  Cape Breton Post, August 24, 2009
 
The Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway has approached the Nova Scotia government to discuss renewing the subsidy to operate the Cape Breton portion of its line.  The current subsidy is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2010.  The company indicated some slowdown in business during the current recession, and noted that the company has experienced some temporary reductions in its workforce.  Chronicle Herald, August 25, 2009
 
$14 million in federal and provincial funding will be provided over the next two years to support silviculture work in Nova Scotia, primarily for woodlots smaller than 2000 hectares.  The work will include site preparation, tree planting, thinning and tending to ensure growth.  The project is expected to create an estimated 400 jobs.  Cape Breton Post, August 31, 2009
 
Employees affected by the closure of the Magna Precision Finished Components of North Sydney earlier this year will receive additional transition support from the province. In addition to transition support, the province will provide $387,200 to retrain employees who opted to accept a salary continuance package. Of the 218 displaced Magna employees, 137 have chosen salary continuance.  The remaining 81 employees, along with displaced employees from Atlantic Castings of North Sydney, were eligible for financial support for skill development delivered by the Nova Scotia Community College and private trade schools.  Cape Breton Post, August 31, 2009

 

For more information please contact . . .  

Barry 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