Labour Market Monitor - Northern Nova Scotia
December 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
The labour market weakened in Northern Nova Scotia on a year over year basis. Employment fell by 1,800, with declines evident for both full time and part time work. The decrease in jobs was greater than the drop in the labour force between the two periods, and correspondingly the level of unemployment rose. The unemployment rate increased by a full percentage point from 10.2% in December 2009 to 11.3% in December 2010.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Northern NS | December | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 220 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Labour Force (000) | 80.4 | 79.3 |
| Employed (000) | 72.2 | 70.4 |
| Full Time | 59.1 | 58.0 |
| Part Time | 13.0 | 12.4 |
| Unemployed (000) | 8.3 | 9.0 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 61.2 | 60.4 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 10.3 | 11.3 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Education Services
School Boards across Nova Scotia have been asked to review their annual budgets over a three year period for potential cuts of twenty-two percent. The cost reductions would amount to about $196 million in savings to the province as it looks to balance its budget by 2013-14. In the education sector cost savings through the modernization of the school system and opportunities tied to student enrolment decline are being targeted. Various Sources, December 10, 2010
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate & Leasing
The East Coast Credit Union will not be closing its Mulgrave branch. The credit union had announced closure of Mulgrave and two other branches in Cape Breton in November 2009, which included a loss of seven jobs in total. In January 2010, due partly to public outcry, the branches were given a 12 to 18 month extension and review. East Coast Credit Union now says the closures have been suspended indefinitely. Various Sources, December 14, 2010
Manufacturing
Groupe Savoie will keep a skeleton crew of three to four employees at its Westville sawmill. They are accepting softwood pulpwood to be converted to chips for Northern Pulp, also in Pictou County. Groupe Savoie layed off most of its 40 member workforce in early December 2010 due to lack of supply of hardwood, the economic downturn and the high Canadian dollar. The News, December 22, 2010
DSME Trenton began advertising for production staff in early December 2010. Welders, logistics, plasma cutter operator, crane operator, plate roll bending machine operator and quality control technicians are invited to apply to job@dsmetrenton.com. Production of wind turbine towers and blades is planned for spring 2011. Pictou Advocate, December 8, 2010
Public Administration
The Nova Institute for Women, located in Truro, will receive $2.5 milion in federal expansion funding. Currently, of the 82 beds available there are eight designated for inmates with significant cognitive limitations or mental health needs. An additional four spcial care beds are planned during the 18-bed expansion at the facility. There are currently 64 offenders in custody at the regional prison, one of five women's institutions across the nation, and the expansion will increase its allowable capacity to 100. Facts for the Nova Institude have the number of employees at 117. It is anticipated the new living units will be completed during 2012 and 2013. Truro Daily News, December 11, 2010
Nova Scotia's five-year highway improvement plan released in November 2010 includes continued work on twinning highway 104 in Antigonish. Phase I is currently under construction and will end in the fall of 2012. The province's plan confirms that Phase II will begin in 2013 once the first phase is completed. Antigonish Casket, December 12, 2010
The province is supporting Amherst's Centre First Downtown Action Strategy with a $500,000 investment that will be used for new streetlighting and directional signage. Funding is being provided to the project through the Community Development Trust Fund. This latest investment adds to the more than $3 million Amherst and the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association have already contributed towards the plan. The next step is to get the private sector on board. Amherst Daily News, December 8, 2010
The Mi'kmaq Seven Generations Society is receiving $288,600 from the province to oversee a wage subsidy employment project for 47 First Nations' peoples who will have six-month job placements. The people will be employed in the construction and operation of the new proposed multi-million-dollar waterpark and hotel at the Truro Power Centre. The funding will help aboriginal people in Millbrook, Indian Brook and Pictou Landing First Nations acquire the necessary work skills to compete in the local labour market. Truro Daily News, December 23, 2010
Two municipal police forces in Pictou County have signed a five-year contract for policing services. The Town of New Glasgow will provide policing and dispatch services to the neighbouring Town of Trenton beginning January 1, 2011. Four full-time and two part-time police officers will be transferring to the New Glasgow police service. Three part-time officers and three dispatch workers will be losing their jobs with the Town of Trenton. Savings to Trenton are expected to be $150,000 in the first few years to as much as $400,000 in the last years of the contract. The News, December 14, 2010
A new program for Nova Scotia businesses from the provincial government will focus on skill development for existing employees and the purchase of advanced technology and equipment. The Productivity and Investment Program has an annual $25 million budget. It is part of the jobsHere initiative to encourage productivity and competitiveness in Nova Scotia businesses. Antigonish Casket, December 24, 2010
Retail Trade
Tip Top Tailors, at the Truro Mall, will be closing at the end of January. The store's manager and another full-time employee are transferring to the company's New Glasgow location while a small number of part-time staff will be losing their jobs. It was suggested that a downturn in business was behind the closing. Truro Daily News, December 20, 2010
Transportation & Warehousing
Northumberland Ferries will receive federal funding for its Caribou, Nova Scotia to Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island ferry service until March 2014. A five-year agreement between Ottawa and Northumberland Ferries ended in March 2010. Pictou Advocate, December 1, 2010
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