Labour Market Monitor - Halifax
January 2011
This is an overview of the Halifax Region which includes all of Halifax County. It consists of dense urban areas, as well as less populated communities. The Halifax County line starts along the coast just west of Hubbards and runs along the coast including Dartmouth, Lawrencetown, Tangier, Sheet Harbour, and Moser River. Communities along the top of the border include Enfield, Milford, Upper Musqoudoboit, and Dean.
The Labour Market Monitor is a monthly report focusing on Labour Market Information.
Labour Force Trends
The labour market in Halifax remained fairly stable on a year over year basis. Employment in the region remained unchanged from January 2010 to January 2011, reflecting a small decrease in full time work that was completely offset by a rise in part time work. With a slight increase in the labour force, the level of unemployment rose marginally in the region and the unemployment rate grew slowly from 6.1% in January 2010 to 6.3% in January 2011.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Halifax | Janvier | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 250 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Labour Force (000) | 234.1 | 234.5 |
| Employed (000) | 219.8 | 219.8 |
| Full Time | 177.3 | 176.7 |
| Part Time | 42.5 | 43.1 |
| Unemployed (000) | 14.3 | 14.8 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 70.6 | 69.6 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 6.1 | 6.3 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Utilities
Emera Utilities Services of Lakeside, Atlantic Canada's largest supplier of trade workers for power projects, is temporarily laying off 78 employees due to the completion of several renewable energy projects. According to the company, which employs 300 workers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, this is a normal course of business in the sector. (Chronicle-Herald, Jan. 8)
Construction
Construction will begin in March, 2011 on Thornridge Tower, a four storey office building near the Bedford common. The complex, expected to be completed in the fall of 2011, will house Thornridge Holdings Ltd. and its various companies, including Hawthorne Capital inc. (Chronicle Herald, Jan.5)
The owner of C & D Drywall says his company, which employs 20 people, has been quite busy for years due to the amount of construction in the Halifax area. Pending approval, he also plans to soon develop 47 lots for single homes in Hubley. (Chronicle Herald, Jan.24)
Manufacturing
Dartmouth furniture manufacturer Scanwood Canada will cut 14 jobs effective March 1, 2011. The cuts are tied to the installation of a $1.6-million processing line financed by the provincial government and follow on the heels of 35 job losses in June. The company, which now has 248 employees, says it faces intense global competition for contracts but hopes to eventually increase production and add jobs. (Chronicle Herald, Jan 19)
Trade
Toys "R" Us will move from the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth by the fall of 2011 to a larger location to be constructed at Dartmouth Crossing. McDonald's will also soon open near the Tim Hortons in Dartmouth Crossing. (Chronicle Herald, Jan 19)
BeaverTails, which operates a mobile canteen fast food outlet besides the Canada Games skating oval in Halifax, needs more staff. Business has been brisk since the opening of the oval in December, 2010. (Chronicle Herald, Jan6)
Transportation and Warehousing
Overall container cargo at the Port of Halifax increased 26.3 percent in 2010 from 2009 after several years where it declined. According to the port authority, the increase is attributable to a general global economic recovery and marketing efforts. However, bulk cargo shipments like grains, petroleum products and gypsum were down by 14 percent from 2009, possibly due to the prolonged economic slowdown in the United States. Break bulk cargo (mainly machinery and forest products) increased 23.7 percent, and vehicle shipments by 15.9 percent. Overall tonnage was down 1.6 percent. The port also welcomed all-time high of 261,216 cruise ship passengers, up 14.7 percent from 2009. (Chronicle Herald, Jan 20)
Passenger traffic increased by 2.7 percent in 2010 from 2009 at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, making it the second-busiest year (next to 2008) on record. Domestic traffic and travel to the United States increased while international travel declined. With increased flights to various destinations, 2011 is expected to be another healthy year at the airport. (Chronicle Herald, Jan 26)
Information and Culture
Bell Aliant will expand its fibre optic communication system to about 160,000 homes and businesses in the Halifax area. The large installation project will create jobs for technicians, and subcontractors will also be brought in to assist company crews. The system will be available in some parts of the city in the middle of 2011. (Chronicle Herald, Jan.21)
DHX Media Inc. will add an additional 75 employees to its animation studio over the next year, doubling its workforce. Recent government changes to the film industry tax credit have brought increased optimism to the animation business. (Chronicle Herald, Jan.25)
Finance and Insurance
Credit unions in Atlantic Canada have merged under one organization, Atlantic Central, which will provide banking and related services to 61 member-owned groups. Headquarted in Halifax, with offices in Moncton and Charlottetown, the organization says there may be transfers but no job losses, and the merger may result in more career opportunities. (Chronicle Herald, Jan.5)
Nine new jobs will be created when the Royal Bank of Canada opens a branch in Hemlock Square, Halifax in the fall of 2011. (Chronicle Herald, Jan.27)
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
The Elekta Atlantic Translational Imaging Centre, which has officially opened at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, could employ as many as 12 people within the next three to five years. The laboratory uses imaging technology to locate and diagnose brain disorders. According to management, Halifax is an ideal location for such a facility as it has the highest proportion of neuroscientists of any city in the country. (Chronicle-Herald, Jan.25)
Education
According to the minister, teacher retirements will help cut costs in the education system. It is expected that 1,000 teachers will retire over the next three years and the number of students will drop by 7,000. The province is seeking ways seeks ways to deal with potential spending reductions in education, and is emphasizing that school boards should make first cuts in the area of administration. The Nova Scotia Teachers Union said providing a good education won't be possible if roughly 10 percent of teaching positions disappear. (Chronicle-Herald, Jan.21)
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
The Canada Games Centre at Thomas Raddall Drive in Halifax has opened. The complex contains swimming pools and water slides, a 200-metre track, fitness centre, gymnasium courts and rooms for public use. After the Canada Winter Games in February, 2011, the facility will be used by the public.
A GoodLife fitness centre has opened at Penhorn Plaza in Dartmouth. GoodLife bought Nubody's 23 Atlantic fitness clubs in 2009 and now has 34 outlets in the region, including 15 in Nova Scotia. According to the company, there may soon be another new location opening in Halifax. (Chronicle-Herald, Jan.11)
Accomodation and Food services
A Baton Rouge restaurant (www.batonrougerestaurants.com) will open in the Morse's Tea building on the Halifax waterfront in the spring of 2011. The chain, which specializes in ribs, steaks, and seafood, has 29 locations across Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. (Chronicle-Herald, Jan.7)
Note: In preparing this Labour Market Monitor, 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. Readers 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 please contact your local Labour Market Information Analysts for Halifax:
neill.evans@servicecanada.gc.ca
or
glenn.yetman@servicecanada.gc.ca
or visit our website at: www.labourmarketinformation.ca