Labour Market Update - Southern Nova Scotia

Unemployment Rate Falls despite Lower Employment Levels

• Employment fell from August to September as is the normal seasonal pattern at this time of the year, but was almost the same level as in September 2008.  September was the first month in 2009 which had comparable employment levels to 2008.
• The level of unemployment fell for the fifth consecutive month in September.  In March 2009, the unemployment level was the highest for that month in the past ten years.  By September 2009, the unemployment rate was among the lowest in the past ten years.
• The unemployment rate fell in September as the decline in unemployment was relatively larger than the decline in employment.  The unemployment rate is at the lowest September level since 2004.
• The labour force declined in September as both employment and unemployment declined.  While the labour force usually fluctuates over the year, this was the first monthly labour force decline in 2009.
• Goods-Producing Employment remained stable in September but is well below 2008 levels.  Though Service-Producing employment fell slightly in September, it is still above September 2008 levels and grew consistently for the first eight months of 2009.

For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at:

www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss08b-eng.htm

Shannex, a Halifax-based firm specializing in seniors’ care, has indicated it will need at least 80 workers for Ryan Hall, a 65-bed long-term care facility being built in Bridgewater. The company will be hiring continuing care assistants, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists and recreational coordinators. Ryan Hall is expected to open in the spring of 2010.  Bridgewater Bulletin - 8 September 2009

AbitibiBowater announced that it will cut production in half at its Brooklyn newsprint plant. However, there will be no closing or idling of a machine as the plant has only been running at 50 percent since January with multiple six-week closures. The mill was scheduled to reopen again in early October. In addition to their 500 employees, the reduced capacity at the mill will affect more than 1,000 jobs in forest management and harvesting operations, private sawmills, trucking firms and other suppliers.  Liverpool Advance - 22 September 2009

Construction has begun on a new Staples store in Cookville, just outside Bridgewater. The 15,000-square-foot store is expected to open in late spring 2010 and employ at least 15 people.  Bridgewater Bulletin - 15 September 2009

A wind farm project in Digby Neck, in the works for two years, was approved in late-August by the province’s Environment Department. SkyPower and Scotia Windfields Inc. will erect 20 wind turbines creating 25.5 megawatts of power, enough energy to power about 10,000 homes year round. The project is expected to create 40 construction jobs and three to five highly skilled operations and maintenance positions.  Digby Courier - 3 September 2009

Construction began at the end of September on the new Tideview Terrace, a 90-bed nursing home located at the end of Pleasant Street in Digby. The project will cost $20 million and is expected to be completed in June 2011. The facility will be 86,000 square-feet, triple the size of the current facility.  Digby Courier - 24 September 2009

Lunenburg and Shelburne were featured as stand-ins for Nantucket in late-September, as filming for the $25 million TV miniseries Moby Dick took place in both towns. Shelburne’s Seacoast Studios will also be utilized later in the year for interior ship scenes. Extensive set building took place during September to recreate the period look of the film.  Various Sources - 15 September 2009