Atlantic Labour Market Brief: December 2025

Canada

• The country experienced growth in employment in December, amounting to 8,200 jobs, making it the fourth consecutive monthly gain.
• Full-time jobs increased alongside fewer part-time.
• The unemployment rate moved higher in the month to 6.8%.
• The goods-producing sector added jobs (+8,000), while the services-producing sector saw growth of 100 jobs.

Labour force: 22,694,400 (+81,000) Employment: 21,143,700 (+8,200)

Atlantic Canada

• The number of people employed declined in December by 1,400 jobs.
• Part-time jobs increased while full-time jobs declined.
• The unemployment rate declined slightly in December to 7.4%.
• The goods-producing sector added jobs (+2,800), while the service sector saw job reductions of 3,900.

Labour Force: 1,372,000 (-1,900)

Employment: 1,269,900 (-1,400)

Nova Scotia

• Labour Force: 560,300
• Employment: 523,900
• Unemployment Rate: 6.5%
• Labour Force Change: -700
• Employment Change: +300
• Unemployment Rate Change: -0.2

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