Northern Nova Scotia Labour Market Monitor - March 2010
This is an overview of the Northern Region which includes Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish and Guysborough Counties. The Labour Market Monitor is a monthly report providing information on labour market developments for specific regions within the province.
Labour Force Trends
Employment decreased marginally (400) in Northern Nova Scotia on a year over year basis, with the largest share of the decline being in full time work. With the labour force increasing slightly over the same period, the level of unemployment increased slightly (500) and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points to 12.9 percent in March 2010.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at:www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Northern Nova Scotia | March | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 220 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Labour Force (000) | 76.1 | 76.2 |
| Employed (000) | 66.8 | 66.4 |
| Full Time | 53.5 | 53.2 |
| Part Time | 13.3 | 13.2 |
| Unemployed (000) | 9.3 | 9.8 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 57.9 | 58.0 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 12.2 | 12.9 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Construction:
S.W. Weeks Construction Ltd won a $6.5 million contract for work on Highway 104, east of New Glasgow. This phase of the project involves paving 7.4 kms of two new eastbound lanes. Weeks was also awarded a $2 million contract to repave 7.2 kms of Highway 106. The News, March 15, 2010
Two tenders will soon be in place for two major projects for this summer in Bible Hill. One is for phase four of the Truro water system expansion into Bible Hill and also includes sidewalk construction. The estimated $1.6-million project will see the water system expanded on East Court Road, Hazel Drive and Pictou Road from East Court Road to Wright Avenue. The village is also preparing documents for a tender estimated at $1.8-million to replace the nearly 40-year-old sewer pumping station that is located at the Bible Hill Rec Park. Truro Daily News March 9, 2010
Manufacturing:
Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Ltd. will partner with the province of Nova Scotia to manufacture wind turbine towers and blades at the former Trenton Works railcar plant. Employment of 120 workers is expected the first year of operation and up to 500 within three years. Daewoo holds 51 percent ownership investing $20.4 million; the province will invest $19.6 million for 49 percent of the manufacturing company. The province is also contributing $40 million in loans and the federal government $10 million in loans and land improvements. DSME is hoping begin operations by the fall of 2010. (www.dsme.co.kr) Various Sources, March 05, 2010
Construction
A slowdown in construction at Kent Homes, in Debert, will result in some short-term layoffs until the spring construction season begins. A spokesperson for J.D. Irving Ltd., advised that about 20 employees are being laid off for the next few weeks. Truro Daily News, March 19, 2010
Ron Wallace Realty Limited was granted approval to construct two apartment buildings at 16 Park Street in Truro. Town council approved the proposal, which includes 102 units and will be built in 2011 and 2014.The development will include the construction of two five-storey buildings situated on Marshland Drive. The first will be a 39-unit building with construction beginning in the spring of 2011, while the second would begin in the spring of 2014 and contain 63 units. Both would include a ground floor parking garage as well as surface parking. Truro Daily News March 3, 2010
Transportation:
The N.S. government approved an option to purchase 505 hectares of Crown land in Guysborough County for the developers of the Melford International Terminal. The company says it is currently working on financing the deal and further announcements can be expected within a short period of time. (www.melford-terminal.com) Chronicle Herald, March 31, 2010
Business Services
A New Brunswick-based knowledge management company Innovatia is looking for technical support specialists as the firm gets ready to expand and create new jobs in the Truro area. Innovatia's organizational development manager Lynn Smith says some 20 to 30 technical support specialists for tier one and tier two positions are needed immediately with the possibility of more jobs within 12 months. The new work is described as a business-to-business technical support service for a major North American technology company. To apply online, visit www.innovatia.net/careers. Truro Daily News, March 8, 2010
Convergys, New Glasgow held a job fair in March, 2010 seeking 55 Customer Service Representatives for their inbound contact centre for work on a health care account. Customer service experience, computer literacy, high school diploma and the ability to work flexible hours are required. (www.convergys.com/careers) Chronicle Herald, March 25, 2010
The Strait Regional School Board approved a plan to amalgamate two schools in Guysborough County. St. Mary's Education Centre will close following completions of renovations to St. Mary's Academy. Together the two schools currently have about 334 students down from 700 over the last two decades. The closure is not expected to occur for another two years. (ls-strait.ednet.ns.ca) Chronicle Herald, March 12, 2010
Information, Culture and Recreation
The Town of Pictou will not be opening the Hector Heritage Quay this spring due to a lack of funds to keep the tourist attraction running. Seventeen seasonal employees will not be returning for work this spring. The Quay is home to the Ship Hector, a store and museum on the Pictou waterfront. The News, March 31, 2010
Education
The government plans to fulfill its election promise of adding 250 seats at the Nova Scotia Community College to programs in trades and professions now in demand. No immediate information is available on which campuses or programs will expand. The premier says the community college gets twice as many applicants as available seats. Chronicle Herald, March 3, 2010
Health
Bright Beginning child care centre on Park Street, in Amherst, is receiving support from Community Services to complete about $24,000 in renovations. The funding is being provided under the province's Early Learning and Child Care Plan and allows for improvements like new windows, installing accessibility ramps and energy-efficient furnaces. Amherst Daily News, March 9, 2010
A family physician and child/adolescent psychiatrist have joined the Cumberland Health Authority's medical staff. Family physician Dr. John Atia and psychiatrist Dr. Saleem Kirmani are both now practising in the Amherst area. Dr. Atia has established his office with Amherst Medical Associates in the Pharmasave building on Robert Angus Drive. Dr. Kirmani is currently working at Cumberland Mental Health Services as part of the child and adolescent team. The health authority continues to look for several specialists including an internal medicine doctor while another doctor for Amherst and ones for Parrsboro and Springhill, to be part of a collaborate practice, are also needed. According to its website, the health body is also looking for a number of technologists, registered nurses and LPNs. Amherst Daily News, March 19, 2010
Other:
On April 1, 2010 Nova Scotia's minimum wage rose from $8.60 to $9.20 per hour. The minimum wage for inexperienced workers rose from $8.10 to $8.70 per hour. There will be an additional increase to $9.65 per hour on October 1, 2010. Various Sources, March 31, 2010
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 Analyst
for Cumberland / Colchester: ken.mills@servicecanada.gc.ca
for Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough : diane.tibbo@servicecanada.gc.ca
or visit our website at: www.labourmarketinformation.ca