Labour Market Trends and Labour Force Survey, July 2021
Labour force survey results reflect the period from July 11 to 17. Compared to the June reference week, public health restrictions were significantly eased around indoor and outdoor dining, recreation and cultural activities, retail shopping, and personal care services. Nova Scotia reopening plan moved to Phase 3 on June 30 and Phase 4 on July 14 (middle of reference week) with less stringent public health measures compared to June.
Nova Scotia Labour Market Trend Highlights:
- Nova Scotia’s employment was 1.2% below the pre-COVID level of February 2020 with 5,800 fewer people employed.
- Nova Scotia’s labour force increased 500 (+0.1%) to 503,300 in July.
- The labour force in July was lower by 4,300 (-0.8%) than the February 2020 level with population growth of 8,700 (+1.1%) over the same period.
- The number of unemployed persons decreased 3,200 compared to last month but is 1,500 higher compared to February 2020.
- The unemployment rate decreased 0.6 percentage points from last month to 8.4% in July 2021.
- In July 2021 in Nova Scotia, there were 27,000 persons employed but at less than 50% of their usual hours (including zero hours), down from 31,800 in June and 45,900 in May and still elevated by 7,200 compared to 19,800 in February 2020.
- In February 2020, Nova Scotia’s labour underutilization rate was 14.1%. This underutilization increased to 37.1% in April 2020 and subsequently fell 15.5% in April 2021, before rising to 22.8% in May 2021 and declining to 18.5% in June and 16.6% in July.
- The unemployment rate decreased for youth and core-aged workers in Nova Scotia in July 2021. Compared to the previous month, the unemployment rate declined 2.6 percentage points to 14.0% for youth workers (ages 15-24) and decreased 0.5 percentage points to 6.6% for core-aged workers (aged 25-54). For older workers (ages 55 and over), the unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 9.3% in July.
LEARN MORE: Find more labour market trends from July 2021.
Nova Scotia Labour Force Survey Highlights:
MONTH OVER MONTH (Jul 2021 vs Jun 2021, seasonally adjusted)
- Labour force increased 0.1% (500) to 503,300
- Employment increased 0.8% (3,700) to 461,200
- Unemployment decreased 7.1% (3,200) to 42,100
- Unemployment Rate decreased 0.6 percentage points to 8.4%.
LEARN MORE: Find more survey results for July 2021.