An in-depth look at the size, shape, and future of the province’s digital economy, and the choices that will decide how far it grows over the next few years.
Digital is no longer confined to tech firms. It’s embedded across every industry, from financial services to oceans and life sciences. The economy is strong and specialized. But future growth isn’t guaranteed: it depends on one lever above all, investment in digital capital (software, automation, and computing capacity).
The composition, economic footprint, and how Nova Scotia compares to other jurisdictions.
Hiring needs, in-demand roles and skills, and what businesses are navigating.
Worker profiles, employment conditions, and how people feel about their prospects.
The core levers that will shape the province’s success in the coming years.
Modelled outcomes for jobs, GDP, and wages, plus the cost of standing still.
Where the ecosystem is strong, where it falls short, and where to act.
The model projects how the digital economy could grow under three paths, driven mainly by how much the province invests in technology capital. Switch between them to see the difference.
The gap between the baseline path and the high-growth path isn’t abstract. Over the next few years, it adds up to real jobs and real output the province would forgo.
Nova Scotia is excellent at creating new firms. The opportunity is in helping them scale, exactly where capital deepening and lasting growth happen.
Targeted incentives for digital & knowledge-intensive investment
Scale-up & commercialization support
Technology adoption & diffusion at scale
Bolstered shared digital infrastructure
Skills development aligned to senior-talent gaps
The study combines on-the-ground data from Nova Scotia’s employers and workers with scenario-based economic modelling of the digital economy.
Every section, every chart, and the full methodology behind Nova Scotia’s digital economy.
Download the report (PDF)
