Labour Market Update - Annapolis Valley
November 2009*
Overview
Unemployment Rate Up Despite Higher Employment
- The unemployment rate increased on a monthly basis in November 2009 as unemployment grew by a larger share than employment. The difference in the unemployment rate compared to November 2008 was even greater as the level of employment fell over this period.
- At 9.1 percent, this was the highest recorded unemployment rate in the month of November for the past ten years.
- Employment was higher than in the previous year for most of the first half of 2009, but fell below 2008 levels between July and November.
- Employment in the Goods-Producing sector increased for the eighth consecutive month, mostly on the strength of employment increases in Construction.
- Employment in the Service-Producing sector has been decreasing for the past seven months. Retail Trade and Transportation & Warehousing were major influences on the downward trend.
Future Shop is opening on December 11 at Unit 1-54 Silver Fox Avenue in Granite Drive Plaza in New Minas. Phone: 902.681.2980. Staff - November 30, 2009
A new pharmacy - Kentville Pharmasave - is now open in Kentville in a brand new building soon to be co-located with two GP Doctor’s offices - Dr. Wadden and Dr. MacMillan. Staff - November 30, 2009
Hawboldt’s Furniture in Windsor is closed. Vice-president Robert Hunt confirmed the news on November 23 that the company is bankrupt and is in receivership. Hants Journal - November 26, 2009
YouthWorks, a project of the Nova Scotia Community College’s Annapolis Valley Campus to help marginalized young people from Hantsport to Annapolis Royal gain training, work experience and employment, will be receiving $521,156 in Federal Funding over three years. YouthWorks is located at the Career Resource Centre in Kentville and at 90 Commercial Street in Middleton. Annapolis County Spectator - November 12, 2009
Kings council voted to approve the framework to hire a paid chief for the Kentville Fire Department, including governance and hiring criteria for the position. Council also approved a motion to have staff continue to communicate with fire departments as required to compare levels of honoraria currently being paid to volunteers, and to develop a recommendation for council to consider as part of the 2010-11 county fire grants and budget deliberation process. Council wants to create a level playing field among the volunteer fire departments. Kentville Advertiser - November 24, 2009
The Utility and Review board denied a lounge license for Windsor’s Cocoa Pesto Bistro for their new lounge addition (Strays Lounge) earlier this month after some neighbours expressed concerns at a public hearing. Proprietor Scott Geddes says he plans to appeal the decision. Hants Journal - November 26, 2009
Kings County council is looking at building a new tri-government complex just off Highway 101 in New Minas and/or renovating the current municipal complex in Kentville. The potential site for the campus of buildings, with common services and access, is 39.4 acres over three plots of land at the busiest street corner in the county, near Highway 101’s Exit 12. The proposed municipal and justice building would cost an estimated $7.5 million; the proposed Access Nova Scotia and provincial building, $2.2 million; and the garage, workshop and storage building, $2.8 million. Kings County Register - November 5, 2009
Barry J. Soper
Economist
99 Wyse Road, P.O. Box 1350
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4B9
(902) 426-5590
E-mail: barry.soper@servicecanada.gc.ca
Web site: www.labourmarketinformation.ca
Glenn McMullen
Labour Market Information Analyst
495 Main Street
Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 3W5
(902) 679-5516
E-mail: glenn.mcmullen@servicecanada.gc.ca
Web site: www.labourmarketinformation.ca