Labour Market Monitor - Northern Nova Scotia
April 2011
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
The labour market improved in Northern Nova Scotia in April. Employment increased by 1,200 on a year over year basis, reflecting an increase in full time work of 2,400 which more than offset a decline in part time work. The labour force expanded by 1,500 over the same period. With labour force growth just outpacing employment growth, the level of unemployment and the unemployment rate remained relatively stable on a year over year basis and is currently 11.2 percent.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Northern NS | April | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 220 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Labour Force (000) | 75.0 | 76.5 |
| Employed (000) | 66.7 | 67.9 |
| Full Time | 53.0 | 55.4 |
| Part Time | 13.7 | 12.5 |
| Unemployed (000) | 8.3 | 8.6 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 57.6 | 58.8 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 11.1 | 11.2 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Accommodation and Food Services
The Palliser Restaurant Motel and Gifts in Truro will not reopen for 2011. The restaurant and motel were operated seasonally from May to late October and employed about 30 people. The facility has been a favourite tourist destination for decades as people viewed the famous tidal bore from the banks of the Salmon River. The 10 acre property, which is now for sale, includes a 42 unit motel, 120 seat restaurant gift shop and an interpretive centre. Truro Daily News, April 11, 2011
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
The federal government's Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures program includes a $50 million fund to voluntarily buyout lobster fisherman in the Atlantic region. In the short-term, if enough fishermen accept the offer, the supply of lobster should be reduced and potentially raise the price per pound. In the long-term, the program hopes to lower the overall catch, thereby, leaving more spawning females to increase the lobster population. Pictou Advocate, April 13, 2011
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
Bird Construction will build the Pictou County Wellness Centre with $31 million in funding contributed by Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments. Pictou County's new multi-purpose sport, recreation and wellness complex will be started in May 2011 with a planned completion date of late 2012. Pictou Advocate, April 27, 2011
Education Services
Chignecto-Central School Board has approved 1,404.3 full-time equivalent teaching positions for the 2011-12 school years. The estimated decline in student enrolment for this upcoming year is 425 students. In the 2009-10 school years the board approved 1442.8 full-time teaching positions in the budget. Pictou Advocate, April 27, 2011
Reduced provincial funding and declining enrollment will result in the loss of 20.5 full-time equivalent teachers for the 2011-12 school year across the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board. This will mean a reduction of 17 teachers. The board was also required to eliminate 8.5 full time equivalent positions as a result of a provincial government requirement to cut the number of consultants by 50 per cent. That would normally mean a loss of 25.5 teachers, but a newly-proposed literacy support model will result in five additional full-time teaching positions. Truro Daily News, April 15, 2011
The Strait Regional School Board approved a reduction of 14 full-time equivalent positions for the 2011-12 school years. The board expects retirements will exceed this number and they will actually be in a net hiring position. The hiring process for teachers will begin May 2, 2011. Regional administration has also been reduced by six positions. No decision has yet been made on non-teaching and non-staff budget areas. Antigonish Casket, April 27, 2011
The Nova Scotia Teacher's Union, representing 550 teachers, has a new contract with the Strait Regional School Board. This contract covers items not contained in the Teachers' Provincial Agreement, such as, assignments, transfers, etc. Guysborough Journal, April 20, 2011
Health Care
R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home in Antigonish is increasing available beds by twenty-eight with construction of two cottage style units. Each unit will have a living room, dining room, laundry and private rooms for residents. Once construction is completed in the spring of 2011 staff will be hired and trained in the new long-term care option. Antigonish Casket, April 4, 2011
Manufacturing
DSME Trenton has its first contract to manufacture wind turbine towers. The Trenton plant is scheduled to start production in May 2011. There are currently about ninety workers employed. Pictou Advocate, April 23, 2011
IMP Aerospace Components continues to seek staff for machining jobs for it's Amherst facility. IMP announced in November that it would be closing its machining shop in the Burnside Industrial Park and moving the 25 jobs to Amherst this spring. So far they have about half of their machinists staff in place and are still recruiting more for their current needs. Officials say that about 30 positions in total have been created because of this transition. Once the hiring is complete, the Amherst operation will have some 335 employees. Amherst Daily News, April 13, 2011
LED Roadway Lighting, of Amherst, has entered into a second partnership opportunity with Pecan Lighting Ltd. to deliver LED fixtures to the Australian market. Pecan Lighting is an Australian street lighting company specializing in solar applications. LED has also been selected by Saskatoon Light and Power as the provider of fixtures for installation in a new subdivision. The contract will see 250 fixtures installed this spring. The award comes after a pilot project in another subdivision in Saskatoon. It's estimated the new lights will save $515,000 and maintenance savings of $410,000 over 20 years. Various Sources April 16, 2011
Public Administration
Truro town council has approved an application to expand an existing three-unit dwelling at the corner of Willow and Duke street by an additional three units. There is a 14-day appeal period from when the town advertised the decision. Truro Daily News, April 5, 2011
Retail Trade
Andy's Tire Shop Ltd. has recently been sold to new owners. Andy's Tire is the largest independent distributor of new passenger and light truck tires in Atlantic Canada. It operates six retail locations in Nova Scotia with its head office in Truro and has a wholesale distribution network that spreads through all four Atlantic provinces. The owners will retain all current employees and they're hopeful that they can grow the business and create even more jobs. Truro Daily News, April 27, 2011
Note: In preparing this document, 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. Users 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