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June 11, 2025

Atlantic Labour Market Brief: May 2025

Atlantic Labour Market Brief: May 2025

Canada

  • Employment rose during the month by 8,800 jobs.
  • Full-time jobs increased alongside fewer part-time.
  • The unemployment rate increased slightly in May to 7.0%, reaching its highest point since August 2021.
  • The goods-producing sector lost jobs in May (-13,000), while the services-producing sector saw growth of 21,800 jobs.

Labour force: 22,552,700 (+35,300) Employment: 20,978,100 (+8,800)

Atlantic Canada

  • Employment grew at a strong pace in May, up from the prior month by 15,900 jobs.
  • The growth occurred in both full-time and part-time positions.
  • The unemployment rate fell in the month to 7.2%, influenced by the solid job gains.
  • The goods-producing sector added jobs (+100), while the services-producing sector saw growth of 15,700 jobs.

Labour Force: 1,374,500 (+12,800) Employment: 1,275,100 (+15,900)

Nova Scotia

  • Labour Force: 563,900
  • Employment: 527,000
  • Unemployment Rate: 6.5%
  • Labour Force Change: +7,400
  • Employment Change: +10,600
  • Unemployment Rate Change: -0.7

Download the Full Report

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Additional Reports - In The News

[button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/InTheNews-DansLesNouvelles-AT-2025-05-EN-Final.pdf" label="English"] [button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/InTheNews-DansLesNouvelles-AT-2025-05-FR-Final.pdf" label="French"]

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