Labour Market Update - Halifax

November, 2009* 

Overview 

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

Employment Falters in November

In the News 

Brookfield Global Relocation Services will create 150 jobs in Dartmouth in the next five years with assistance from the provincial payroll rebate program. The company, which provides global employee relocation services for corporations and government, and already has an office in Dartmouth that employs 48 people, will move to a location on Brownlow Avenue in Burnside. A young and educated workforce attracted the company to the area, and the jobs will include a wide range of positions in finance, accounting, administration, auditing, customer service and quality assurance. Salaries will range from about $25,000 to $55,000 per year.   (Business, Building and Other support) (Chronicle Herald, Nov 26)

The Irving owned Halifax Shipyard has been awarded another major contract, a major refit on the navy ship HMCS Iroquois. The ship will arrive in December, and will be in the yard until late 2010, with work for 110 people. Several major contracts have been awarded to the shipyard in recent months, including work on Coast Guard and navy ships, and an offshore supply vessel. The shipyard also hopes to win a major refit contract for the navy ship HMCS Preserver in the spring of 2010, which would employ 200 people for 12 to 18 months.  (Manufacturing) (Chronicle-Herald, Nov 26)

Longtail Studios, a New York-based video game developer, expects to hire about 60 people over the next five years at its Barrington Street studio in Halifax with help from the provincial government’s payroll rebate program. Annual salaries will start at about $60,000, and the company was attracted to the area by an educated supply of workers with computer engineering, graphic design, and writing skills. There are currently about a dozen people working for the company in Halifax.  (Information and Culture) (Chronicle-Herald, Nov 13)

Montreal-based information technology firm /n Spro Inc. plans to create up to 20 new jobs over five years in Halifax with help from a payroll agreement from the province. The company provides consulting services to organizations using SAP human resources and payroll software in the public, high tech, pharmaceutical and oil and gas sectors. The company was attracted to the area because of its talented workforce and existing client base.  (Professional, Scientific and Technical) (Chronicle-Herald, Nov 18)

National Gypsum will continue to operate its mine at Milford Station at a reduced capacity of about 60 workers.  Many workers were laid off at the mine over the past year due to reduced sales and the collapse of the housing market in the United States.  (Mining) (Chronicle-Herald, Nov 9)

For more information please contact . . .

Barry J. Soper