Labour Market Monitor - Annapolis Valley NS
June 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 focusing on Labour Market Information.
Labour Force Trends
The labour market in the Valley Region continued to deteriorate on a year-over-year basis in June. Employment contracted significantly (1,600) on a year-over-year basis, with the decrease in employment reflecting a large decline in full-time work (3,100) being partially offset by an increase in part-time work of 1,500. The labour force in the Valley decreased by 700 in June 2010 on a year-over-year basis. With the decrease in employment being larger than the decline in the labour force, the level of unemployment increased in June when compared with the same month last year. The unemployment rate edged up from 8.0 percent in June 2009 to 9.4 percent this year.
For more information, please visit the Statistics Canada website at: www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/lfss05b-eng.htm
| Valley | June | |
|---|---|---|
| Region: 230 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Labour Force (000) | 62.6 | 61.9 |
| Employed (000) | 57.7 | 56.1 |
| Full Time | 47.5 | 44.4 |
| Part Time | 10.2 | 11.7 |
| Unemployed (000) | 5.0 | 5.8 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 61.6 | 60.6 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 8.0 | 9.4 |
| Data is 3 month moving average from the Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada | ||
Labour Market News by Industry
Agriculture
Nova Scotia's turkey barns are filled with birds again following an unwanted production holiday. Last year's decision by producers to suspend production and de-populate their barns was driven largely by events in the processing sector says chairman of the NS Turkey Producers Marketing Board. Provincially, ACA had stopped processing at its New Minas plant, while nationally Maple Leaf's listeriosis outbreak disrupted its deli meat production and depressed the male turkey market. The North American market was also depressed by the U.S. economic slowdown - it took a lot of oomph out of the industry all these things coming together at once. We're definitely concerned we don't have a local processor for turkey though measures are being taken diligently to ensure we do have a processing capability in the future. During the most recent production hiatus, Nova Scotia producers (as part of the national supply management system) leased out their quota to Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick colleagues. Now that provincial turkey farmers have found an alternative processor in Quebec and with help from other industry stakeholders, (principally hatcheries and feed companies) Young reports they have retrieved their production allocation as members of Turkey Farmers of Canada. No producer has left the industry as a result of the market disruption. The NS industry has 20 turkey producers, 15 also produce chicken. Atlantic Farm Focus - June 29, 2010
Trade
Pharmasave has recently opened up a new location in Kentville at 100 Station Lane. Phone: (902) 365-6655 Kings County Advertiser - June 1, 2010
Springvale Nurseries is shutting down its retail operations in Berwick, much to the dismay and frustration of its president, Paul Grimm. Following a massive inventory liquidation sale its Berwick garden centre will close permanently due to insufficient sales putting approximately 10 people out of work. At one point the company's labour force numbered close to 100 but shrinking sales over the past few years cut this by more than 75%. It is premature to predict the fate of the balance of Springvale Nurseries business; however, market conditions continue to deteriorate for local producers of most agricultural commodities. More than 90% of all nursery products are now imported even though Nova Scotia has the climate, people, will, resources and capacity to produce them here. Our farming industries are now controlled by centralized buying from the big box stores. Current plans are to maintain their large tree production operation, wholesale and landscape divisions and are presently closing only their retail operation. Nova Scotia Business Journal - June 25, 2010
Information, Culture and Recreation
Thirteen people with EastLink's community television operations in Nova Scotia have recently lost their jobs. Coast-to-coast, Eastlink has laid off 33 people, all from community television operations, effective immediately. The layoffs in Nova Scotia are spread out fairly evenly across the province and mainly affect technicians working at various EastLink Television production centres. Chronicle Herald - June 18, 2010
Transportation:
In its decision released June 18th, the Utility and Review Board denied the request by Acadian Intercity Coaches (Acadian Lines) to abandon the run between Kentville and Digby, and also quashed a bid to halt two Friday runs between Kentville and Halifax. Mike Gushue of the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency (ADEDA) said transportation is the foundation of economic development and that losing the Kentville-Digby run would have severely hurt ADEDA's efforts. Annapolis County Spectator - June 24, 2010
Financial Services
Wells Fargo Financial Corp. Canada has closed its more than 120 stores locations, including nine in Nova Scotia, and will no longer offer new consumer loans in this country. According to a company spokesperson, the decision was made because they were not generating sufficient financial returns. There were two Valley locations - one in Kentville and one in Windsor. Chronicle Herald - June 11, 2010
Educational Services
Peopleworx is going down the road and work is underway on a new building - the Kings Opportunity Service Centre - in the Coldbrook Village Park to be opened later in 2010. Centralized services, with Kings transit to the doorstep, means the move is a fantastic opportunity for clients. The new Trail Court facility will bring three services - the Annapolis Valley Work Centre, the Career Resource Centre and the Continuing Care Assistant program - under one roof, offering "a one-stop shop for clients." Kings County Advertiser - June 1, 2010
Arts and Recreation:
Annapolis Valley recreational facilities got a financial boost June 21, 2010. Under the provincial recreation facility development program, 17 facilities will receive $318, 000. The money will be used to renovate facilities, develop and maintain walking trails, and build and upgrade various fields and buildings used for sports and recreational activities. Chronicle Herald - June 22, 2010
Public Administration:
The Service Canada Centre for Youth Office is now open in the Valley at the Service Canada Office at 495 Main Street in Kentville (2nd floor). The centre serves youth from Mount Uniacke to Bridgetown and is open from 8:30 am - 4 pm M-F. Contacts are Jeffrey Nichols (jeffrey.nichols@servicecanada.gc.ca) & Chelsea Young (chelsea.young@servicecanada.gc.ca); Phone: (902) 679-5774 Hants Journal - June 24, 2010
The proposed growth centre boundary has been a source of contention, but Kings County council has forwarded the Port Williams Secondary Planning Strategy (SPS) to a public hearing. Shannex could still be interested in developing some of the land into an assisted living complex for seniors. Further initiatives from the SPS process to be considered by council include establishing an area advisory committee, under taking a waterfront design, completing a ground water study, the development of parks, trails and sidewalks; improving pedestrian links to Greenwich, trails on dykes and transit service. Kings County Register - June 10, 2010
Kings County council is considering rezoning 152 hectares of farmland near Wolfville. The county's planning advisory committee commissioned a report that recommends the land in Greenwich be rezoned to commercial, residential and industrial. The land, owned by four farming families, the Elderkins, Stirlings, Hennigars and Forsythes, along with Blomidon Nurseries, is east of the access road to Highway 101 at Exit 11 and runs along both sides of the highway. Opponents suggest this flies in the face of efforts to protect prime agricultural land. Chronicle Herald - June 9, 2010
Miscellaneous:
Working with industry partners, the province has unveiled the Explore Our Shores campaign to encourage Maritimers to visit the southwest Nova Scotia region. This campaign showcases the unique experience visitors can have when they visit southwest Nova Scotia which includes the South Shore, Yarmouth and Acadian Shores, Fundy Shore, and the Annapolis Valley. The campaign will include television, radio, newspaper, and online promotion. Visit www.exploreourshores.com Annapolis County Spectator - June 3, 2010
Note: In preparing this bulletin, 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 the bulletin 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 bulletin does not necessarily reflect official policies of Service Canada.For more information please contact: glenn.mcmullen@servicecanada.gc.ca
or visit: www.labourmarketinformation.ca