Labour Market Bulletin - Halifax

April, 2009* 

Overview 

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

According to the Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate for Halifax remained constant between March and April 2009.  There was some growth in employment and the labour force with a small decline in the level of unemployment.  The employment growth was wholly due to more full-time jobs.  The labour force participation rate increased slightly.

The unemployment rate rose by over one percentage point from April in the previous year.  The labour force, employment and unemployment level all increased by large amounts over this period.  Employment growth was in full-time employment with a decline in part-time employment.  The labour force participation rate increased by over two percentage points in this period to 71 percent.  On a year-over-year basis, the labour force and the level of employment rose in each month in 2009.  Despite the increase in unemployment and the unemployment rate, the Halifax labour market has shown some strength during the economic downturn.

*This report is an analysis of three month moving average data from Statistics Canada’s monthly Labour Force Survey.  The reader should be cautioned that because of relatively small sample sizes in subprovincial regions, data reliability may be an issue. 

Industry Analysis

The employment level in both the Goods-Producing and Service-Producing Sectors rose between April 2008 and April 2009.  Most of the employment growth in the Goods-Producing Sector was in

Construction and Manufacturing which are sensitive to consumer demand and indicate the labour market has been doing well during the economic downturn.  The only employment decline in this sector was in Primary Industries.

The largest employment growth in the Services-Producing Sector was in Educational Services; Public Administration; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services and Transportation & Warehousing.  Negative recessionary effects are indicated as the Trade Industry, which is sensitive to consumer demand, experienced year-over-year employment declines in each month of 2009.

In the News

Pratt & Whitney Canada's Halifax manufacturing facility has eliminated 45 permanent positions at its facility near Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The cuts include management and shop floor positions, and will reduce its staff levels to about 290 personnel. A $24-million project that was announced a year ago, to build a modern engine-assembly line and test site in Halifax, has been put on hold.  - Chronicle Herald   4/23/2009 

A $1.1-million LED-street light pilot program was announced this month that could result in manufacturing jobs in Amherst and research and development jobs in Halifax. The cash infusion will see hundreds of traditional streetlights converted to LED systems manufactured and designed in Nova Scotia by LED Roadway Lighting Ltd.  There are currently a small group of research and development staffers working at the LED Roadway Lighting offices in Halifax.  - Chronicle Herald   4/9/2009

The Shaw Group announced to its 20 employees at the Windsor Forks cement plant, that it would close that operation by year's end and will invest more than $4 million in upgrades at the Shaw Brick concrete plant in Lantz. According to a company spokesperson, the decision was made to consolidate the plants under one roof. The merger will create six to eight new positions at the Lantz location, which may provide opportunities for the Windsor Forks employees.  - Chronicle Herald   4/3/2009

Lockheed Martin Canada is expanding its operation in Halifax and will employ at least another 100 people over the next five years. The aerospace and defence company currently employs about 80 people in the city and expects to hire at least 50 people by the end of the summer. The new positions will range from software engineers to computer systems analysts, with salaries starting at about $58,000 for new employees and increaing to about $75,000. - Chronicle Herald   4/2/2009  

Nova Scotia's minimum-wage is now $8.60 an hour as of April 1 2009, a 50-cent increase. The province is planning to increase the minimum wage in the fall of 2010 to $9.65 an hour. According to a provincial review committee, 36,400 employees made less than $8 an hour in 2007, while another 47,600 workers earned between $8 and $9.99. - Chronicle Herald   4/1/2009

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