Atlantic Labour Market Brief: August 2025

Canada

• Employment declined during the month by 65,500 jobs.
• The job reductions occurred in both full-time and part-time positions.
• The unemployment rate moved higher in the month to 7.1%, reaching its highest point since July 2021.
• The goods-producing sector added jobs (+1,700), while the service sector saw job reductions of 67,200.

Labour force: 22,549,500 (-31,200) Employment: 20,954,900 (-65,500)

Atlantic Canada

• Employment fell sharply in August, down from the previous month by 9,900 jobs.
• The job reductions occurred in both full-time and part-time positions, though primarily full-time.
• The unemployment rate fell in the month to 7.8%, hovering just below a 12-month high (8.0%).
• The goods-producing sector lost jobs in August (1,600), while the service sector saw job reductions of 8,300.

Labour Force: 1,369,300 (-12,600) Employment: 1,262,000 (-9,900)

Nova Scotia

• Labour Force: 560,500
• Employment: 524,100
• Unemployment Rate: 6.5%
• Labour Force Change: -4,200
• Employment Change: -1,300
• Unemployment Rate Change: -0.5

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