Labour Market Monitor - Halifax
May 2010
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 continued to improve on a year over year basis. Employment increased by 3,500 on a year over year basis, reflecting a large increase in full time work of 3,900 being offset by a fairly small decline in part time work. The labour force expanded by 2,800 from May 2009 to May 2010. With labour force growth being outpaced by employment growth, the level of unemployment decreased by 700 on a year over year basis, and the unemployment rate fell from 6.3 percent to 5.9 percent this month.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Halifax | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 250 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Labour Force (000) | 229.8 | 232.6 |
| Employed (000) | 215.3 | 218.8 |
| Full Time | 174.6 | 180.5 |
| Part Time | 38.8 | 38.3 |
| Unemployed (000) | 14.5 | 13.8 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 71.7 | 71.7 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 6.3 | 5.9 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Agriculture Forestry Fishing and Hunting
The provincial Department of Agriculture will bring in stricter regulations around the setting up and running of mink farms. The news is welcomed by the Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association, which indicates mink farming boosts the economy tremendously and there are many young farmers that want to get into the business. About half the mink farms in Canada are in Nova Scotia and eighty-five percent of the animals are raised in Digby County. (Chronicle-Herald, May 1)
Construction
According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp., there will be a moderate rise in both single and multiple home starts in Atlantic Canada in 2010 and 2011 as low interest rates, rising incomes, and moderate job growth encourage consumer spending. Existing home sales are also expected to increase in the region. (Chronicle-Herald, May 20)
According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp., residential construction in Halifax will rebound by 22 percent in 2010 and 7.5 percent in 2011 due to positive migration patterns, strong employment levels, and near record wages. There will be increases in both single and multiple housing starts, and the numbers will approach the pre-recession levels of 2008. (Chronicle-Herald, May 20)
General Liquids Canada Ltd. plans to build an asphalt storage terminal on its Rocky Lake Drive property in Waverley. The project will employ 50 people during construction and 12 full time after completion. It is hoped the entire project will be completed by the summer of 2011. The terminal would handle asphalt cement used in the road-building industry. (Chronicle-Herald, May 29)
Dalhousie University plans to build a $33-million student residence on Lemarchant Street in Halifax to accommodate 300 people. Construction is to start in February 2011, and the building should be ready for occupancy by September 2012. Construction will also begin during the summer of 2010 on four community housing units for people recovering from mental illness. The units will be built on the Nova Scotia Hospital property in Dartmouth. (Chronicle-Herald, May 7)
Trade
Rental agreements have been awarded to a variety of art, food, and boat tour businesses to set up along the Halifax waterfront again this summer. (Chronicle-Herald, May 1)
Transportation and Warehousing
CanJet Airlines is laying off 27 of 44 flight attendants at its Halifax base in June,2010. The charter airline says most of its business base has moved west, and that employees are being offered transfers elsewhere. The union, meanwhile, says the company has made minimal offers of assistance with relocation but will be offering severance pay. (Chronicle-Herald, May 21)
US Airways will begin a new, year-round, three times daily service from Philadelphia to Halifax on June 1, 2010. (Chronicle-Herald, May 28)
Real Estate
Existing home sales in Halifax are expected to grow by almost six percent in 2010 and 2.5 percent in 2011 according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. Average home prices will continue to rise as well, reaching approximately $243,500 in 2010 and $250,000 in 2011. (Chronicle-Herald, May 20)
Business Building and Other Support Services
Brookfield Global Relocation Services, with help from the provincial payroll rebate program, is expanding its Halifax area office again with plans to create as many as 90 new jobs. The company, which provides global employee relocation services, had announced a previous expansion in November 2009 of up to 150 new jobs. (Chronicle-Herald, May 3)
Education
More than 150 Saint Mary's University workers, ranging from systems analysts and secretaries to web developers and library assistants, have voted to accept a new three-year contract which will expire on July 1, 2011. The members will get pay increases of 2.9, 2 and 2 percent as well as better vacation and tuition benefits. A new pay level will be added in as well. (Chronicle-Herald, May 19)
Chebucto Connections, a local community development organization, will introduce Pathways to Education to central Spryfield in the fall of 2010 with the goal of reducing the high school dropout rate in the area. Students are assigned mentors who assist with home and school issues. The program has had success in Ontario and Quebec. (Chronicle-Herald, May 26)
Arts and Recreation
The Courtyard Tennis & Fitness Club in Bayers Lake Business Park, in business for 13 years, will close at the end of May,2010. The owner says its been a struggle to make the business viable. (Chronicle-Herald, May 8)
Economic Conditions
The Conference Board of Canada says Nova Scotia's real gross domestic product growth will be contained to 2.2 percent in 2010 and will drop to 1.9 percent in 2011. The economy will benefit from government stimulus spending early in the period, some revival in consumer demand and manufacturing, and medium sized construction projects. However, the winding down of construction on the Deep Panuke offshore project and of stimulus measures later in the period,and the rise in harmonized sales tax balance the outlook. (Chronicle-Herald, May 11)
According to Export Development Canada, Nova Scotia will see some growth in exports over the next couple of years. Increases are expected in natural gas, agri-foods, and tires. Fish exports may show a modest increase, and some recovery in the U.S. housing market should help local wood products. (Chronicle-Herald, May 27)
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