Atlantic Labour Market Brief: April 2025

Canada

• The country experienced growth in employment in April, amounting to 7,400 jobs.
• Full-time jobs increased alongside fewer part-time.
• The unemployment rate moved higher in the month to 6.9%, reaching its highest point since September 2021.
• The goods-producing sector lost jobs in April (-33,000), while the services-producing sector saw growth of 40,300 jobs.

Labour force: 22,517,400 (+46,700) Employment: 20,969,300 (+7,400)

Atlantic Canada

• Employment fell sharply in April, down from the previous month by 5,500 jobs
• The job reductions occurred in both full-time and part-time positions.
• The unemployment rate moved higher in the month to 7.5%, influenced by the job reductions.
• The goods-producing sector lost jobs in April (2,000), while the service sector saw job reductions of 3,400.

Labour Force: 1,361,700 (-1,900) Employment: 1,259,200 (-5,500)

Nova Scotia

• Labour Force: 556,500
• Employment: 516,400
• Unemployment Rate: 7.2%
• Labour Force Change: -2,400
• Employment Change: -8,500
• Unemployment Rate Change: +1.1

Download the Full Report

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Additional Reports - 2024 Segment Data

[button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ClientSegment-SegmentDeClientele-NEW-2024-EN-Final.pdf" label="Newcomers"] [button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ClientSegment-SegmentDeClientele-PWD-2024-EN-Final.pdf" label="Persons with Disabilities"] [button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ClientSegment-SegmentDeClientele-RAC-2024-EN-Final.pdf" label="Racially Diverse Canadians"] [button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ClientSegment-SegmentDeClientele-SEN-2025-EN-Final.pdf" label="Seniors"] [button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ClientSegment-SegmentDeClientele-YTH-2024-EN-Final.pdf" label="Youth"] [button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/LMA_PopInfographic-2025-EN-Final.pdf" label="2025 Population Growth"]