Labour Market Bulletin - Annapolis Valley

The unemployment rate in the Annapolis Valley fell by 1.2 percentage points to 9% between April and May, 2009.  The fall was due to the strength of increased employment and decreased unemployment.  Employment growth was in full-time employment while part-time employment decreased.  Employment was strong throughout the winter and the second highest on record for May. The level and rate of labour force participation fell during this period.  These changes are typical for May in the Valley.

When comparing the May data to May 2008, the unemployment rate remained stable.  Both employment, all in the full-time group, and unemployment rose during this period.  Both the level and rate of labour force participation rose.  While the unemployment rate is higher than in May 2007, the rate has only been lower in May three times in the past twenty years.

Industry Analysis

While overall employment grew both from the previous month and from the previous year, employment in the Goods-Producing Sector increased from April but was down compared with May 2008.  Service-Producing Sector employment, on the other hand, was down from April but showed an overall increase from May 2008.

Within the Goods-Producing Sector, employment was up in all industries except for non-Agricultural Primary Industries from April 2009.  The opposite was true from May 2008 with Construction and Manufacturing employment showing the largest employment declines.  Utilities employment is virtually non-existent in this area.

In the Service-Producing Sector employment changes from April 2009 are very small, with no individual industry standing out.  However, the employment changes from May 2008 show the largest decline in Educational Services and significant increases in Business, Building & Other Support Services; Other Services and Public Administration.

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