Annapolis Valley NS Labour Market Monitor - March 2010
This is an overview of the Annapolis Valley Region which includes Hants, Kings and Annapolis 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 force in the Valley Region decreased by 2,400 from March 2009 to March 2010. Employment also fell over the same period by 1,000, with a decrease in full time work of 1,500 being partially offset by an increase in part time work of 500. Reflecting the large drop in the labour force, the level of unemployment fell by 1,400 on a year over year basis, and correspondingly the unemployment rate dropped by 1.9 percentage points to 9.0 percent in March 2010.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at:www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Valley | March | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 230 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Labour Force (000) | 63.5 | 61.1 |
| Employed (000) | 56.6 | 55.6 |
| Full Time | 44.8 | 43.3 |
| Part Time | 11.8 | 12.3 |
| Unemployed (000) | 6.9 | 5.5 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 62.6 | 59.9 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 10.9 | 9.0 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Agriculture
Pork Nova Scotia (PNS) held its annual meeting March 19 in Greenwich. There are, according to PNS, 16 active producers in good standing with the association down from around 80 just 3 years ago. Overall production is down 73% already into 2010 over 2009's numbers - and 2009 and the year prior were also considered bad years. The demise of Bowlby's slaughterhouse and store in Greenwood in February and the loss of Larsen's kill floor in Berwick this month are just further symptoms. In the last 5 years, the valley has lost 1,700-2,000 jobs in and around the agriculture manufacturing sector. The impact of these closures (Avon Foods, Maple Leaf Poultry, Eastern Protein and ACA co-operative in just the last 4 years) has been far reaching. Kings County Register - March 18, 2010
Construction
Two road paving contracts were recently awarded to Dexter Construction by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. The first, for $6,821,562, is to pave two westbound lanes for the twinning of Highway 101 for 8.9 kms between exit 4 at St Croix and Exit 5 at Three Mile Plains. The second, for $3,080,120 is to repave Highway 101 for 8.2 km's from the Shaw Road underpass to the Annapolis Digby County Line. Annapolis County Spectator - March 18, 2010
A plan is underway near Highway 101's Exit 18 outside the Town of Middleton that includes a combination of a food outlet that will serve coffee and fast food and a gas bar and convenience store. As of March 19, details are still being finalized and the site was awaiting access approval. Annapolis County Spectator - March 25, 2010
Work could begin in May on an $8 million housing project that includes two apartment buildings with commercial space in the abandoned commercial part of downtown Windsor. The development will be located at 555 O'Brien Street and will house a total of 66 rental units and 10,000 square feet of commercial rental space. Halifax developer Clark Wilkins plans to start building in May and have tenants ready to move in by December 2010. Hants Journal - March 18, 2010
Manufacturing
Sarsfield's Pie Plant in the Kentville Industrial Park (also known as Weston Foods), announced on March 25 that 27 employees will be laid off on May 23rd. Nova Scotia Business Journal - March 30, 2010
Trade
Bargain Harley's is moving further up Commercial Street in Berwick to a bigger location in the old Berwick Bakery. Harley Moody says renovations will be done and stock in place for June 1. As for the bakery renovations, it is a $350,000 project and the new store will be 13,000 square feet. Twenty staff currently work at the store, and Moody says "it definitely won't be fewer" once the business moves to its new location. Kings County Register - March 18, 2010
Information, Culture and Recreation
Lifeplex Wellness Centre will close its doors March 21. The county is currently in negotiations with the YMCA who is said to be looking forward to providing community-based services from this state-of-art wellness facility. Annapolis County Spectator - March 11, 2010
Business Services
Convergys Corporation, Annapolis County's largest employer, is ramping up its customer management staff and is embarking on a hiring campaign. Convergys said it is hiring for full-and part-time on-site and home agent positions for its contact centre in Cornwallis. Due to its successful work-at-home pilot, the company will add 50 home agents through May 2010. Annapolis County Spectator - March 11, 2010
Health
A new Shannex Facility - Blomidon Court that is about-to-open in Greenwich will be home to 60 clients and will employ 75 people. Leanne McIntyre is the site manager. Between the two new Shannex nursing homes in the Valley, there have been approximately 150 new permanent positions created. When Blomidon Court opens, it will be the seventh Shannex home built to the Department of Health's new design standards. Smaller facilities, with more home-like environments and private rooms for clients are the key features. The Valley team is looking for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to complete the Blomidon Court team. Kings County Register - March 11, 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: glenn.mcmullen@servicecanada.gc.ca
or visit: www.labourmarketinformation.ca