Northern Nova Scotia Labour Market Monitor - April 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 increased notably (1,500) in Northern Nova Scotia on a year over year basis, with the largest share of the increase being in full time work (1,300). With the labour force remaining unchanged, the level of unemployment decreased by 1,500 and the unemployment rate fell by close to 2 percentage points from 13.0 percent in April 2009 to 11.1 percent in April 2010.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Northern Nova Scotia | April | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 220 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Labour Force (000) | 76.0 | 76.0 |
| Employed (000) | 66.1 | 67.6 |
| Full Time | 52.5 | 53.8 |
| Part Time | 13.6 | 13.8 |
| Unemployed (000) | 9.9 | 8.4 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 57.8 | 57.8 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 13.0 | 11.1 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Agriculture
Springvale Nurseries, which took over from Coupar's Nursery on Pictou Road, in Bible Hill, some five years ago, closed down last fall for the winter and their management has recently decided not to reopen again this spring. A lack of local support and competition from large chain stores has forced the shutdown of the seasonal nursery that specialized in growing its own plants and trees. The shut down does not affect Springvale's two other nurseries in Berwick and Hammonds Plains. Truro Daily News, Apr 13, 2010
Construction:
A Halifax company has purchased the Windsor and Black Block on Victoria Street in Amherst. The building which houses Dooly's on the ground floor has a number of older apartments on the upper floors. Plans are to redevelop the apartments and create as many as 10 affordable housing units. The business will operate under the name Victoria Arms Holding Inc and the company is owned by Alex Filimon. Amherst Daily News, Apr 13, 2010
England Paving Contracting Ltd. was awarded a paving contract worth $423,152.43 by the Town of Antigonish. Numerous town streets will be repaved beginning in May and ending by August 31, 2010. Antigonish Casket, April 28, 2010
PLC has been hired to renovate the Pictou Justice Centre. The Provincial Court in New Glasgow will move to the lower level of the Pictou Justice Centre once renovations have been completed in early 2011. The News, April 07, 2010
Manufacturing:
River's Bend Wood Products Inc. is expanding its facility located in Antigonish. The hardwood floor manufacturer will spend $1.3 million to buy finishing equipment and expand its plant by 7,500 square feet. They expect to go from 11 workers to 17 once renovations are completed and finishing can be done in-house. Construction is expected to begin in May or June 2010. Chronicle Herald, April 30, 2010
Retail Trade:
Leslie Jane is a new ladies clothing store to open at the former Cheryl's Furniture location of 115 Victoria Street East in Amherst. Various Sources, Apr 12, 2010
Business, Building and Other Support Services
Canada Post plans to phase out its call centres across the country including the National Philatelic Centre in Antigonish beginning in 2011. Canada Post will out-source the work to a service provider. Over time, as employees leave or retire, their positions would move to the service provider. The Corporation says no permanent employees will lose their jobs, while temporary workers' contract ends in 2011. The Antigonish Centre has 49 permanent employees and 11 term employees. Antigonish Casket, April 07, 2010
Education
The federal government has committed $500,000 to crop and soil management research at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Bible Hill. Dr. Derek Lynch, who holds a Canada research chair in organic agriculture, received a five-year renewal ($100,000 annually) of his tier-two position. A $150,000 Canadian Foundation for Innovation infrastructure component was also awarded. The money will be used for items such as a roller-crimper, a high-end lab microscope and analytical equipment. The NSAC holds four Canada research chairs, including two in agricultural biotechnology and organic agriculture, one in agriculture resource management and agricultural bio-products. Truro Daily News, Apr 1, 2010
Provincial funding for a new P-8 school in New Glasgow has remained in Nova Scotia's new budget for 2010/2011. The new building will replace Acadia, Temperance and New Glasgow junior high schools; combining primary to Grade 8 students. The $20 million project is to begin in 2011 with completion in 2013. Three potential locations are now being considered by the Chignecto-Central School Board. Pictou Advocate, April 28, 2010
Other Services:
Damaris Spa and Wellness Centre, previously known as Amherst Medical Esthetics, had recently relocated from 158 Robert Angus Drive to a newly renovated facility at 16 Church Street in Amherst. Amherst Daily News, Apr 30, 2010
Public Administration:
The Canadian Union of Public Employees recently negotiated a new contract for 60 employees with the Town of New Glasgow. Wage increases of 3 percent are effective March 1, 2009 & 2010; 2.5 percent March 1, 2011 and 2.5 percent March 1, 2012. Driver operators, stadium chief operator and recreation staff also received wage adjustments along with the economic increases. The News, April 28, 2010
The Department of Community Services will take over three child welfare agencies in Pictou County, Truro and Port Hawkesbury to centralize services. Currently, these Children Aid Societies operate as private agencies and are the last in Nova Scotia to be absorbed by the province. The change will affect 80 staff members and two local group homes. The News, April 09, 2010
Site selection for a new provincial correctional facility in northern Nova Scotia is expected to take another three months. The Department of Justice has short-listed three sites but is still gathering information on each. The Department will then make a recommendation to the Minister followed by geological and environmental testing. The building will cost $31 million to construct, house 100 inmates and employ 112 workers. The News, April 17, 2010
The Strait Area campus of the Nova Scotia Community College will be offering a new behavioral intervention program to train those with a related degree or diploma to work with behaviorally challenged individuals. The course will be ready to go in September 2010. Funding is part of the $2-million commitment to create 250 additional seats in community colleges made in the province's spring 2010 budget. A mental health recovery program (Burridge) and an industrial engineering technology program (Yarmouth) are also being funded. Antigonish Casket, April 21, 2010
The province has committed $5 million in funding to 400 new child-care subsidies, along with grants to day-care centres for staff salaries and benefits, operating expenses and professional development. The subsidized spaces are portable and can be used in for-profit or non-profit child care centres. Chronicle Herald, April 13, 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