Occupational Outlook 2022-2024, Nova Scotia

Each year, Service Canada develops three-year occupational employment prospects at the provincial and sub- provincial level. This analysis is based on a forecast model that captures macroeconomic, demographic and industry employment conditions, in addition to occupation-specific factors that influence job opportunities.This report provides a summary of Nova Scotia’s results from the latest occupational scenario (2022-24). It addresses the sources of labour demand, job growth and attrition, as well as highlights those occupations identified as having Good and Limited employment prospects. More information on the methodology and results can be made available on request or by visiting www.jobbank.gc.ca.Occupational Outlook, Nova Scotia 2022-2024During the 2022-2024 period, it's expected that Nova Scotia will produce 52,100 job opportunities, the majority of which, 58.9 per cent, are expected to occur due to attrition. RegionJust over half of expected roles, 25,380 positions, will occur within the Halifax region, with job growth (1.6 per cent) and attrition (1.8 per cent) contributing a similar number of opportunities. Outside the Halifax region, 26,725 positions are expected to occur, with the rate of job growth slightly slower (1.4 per cent) and attrition rate higher (2.5 per cent) than within the Halifax region.Occupation Skill-Level Category Managementoccupations are expected to have the highest rate of job opportunities in Nova Scotia. The largest number of opportunities are mainly associated with sectors experiencing higher demand or rates of growth, such as IT, as well as those still recovering from pandemic containment measures. A larger share of this skill-level will be retiring between 2022 and 2024 than in other levels, also driving these opportunities. Professionaloccupations, classified as those usually requiring a university education, are projected to have the highest growth rate at two per cent. The Information Technology (IT) sector will drive this rate with a large number of opportunities, as will job growth and retirements among registered nurses.Technical/paraprofessionaloccupations, classified as those usually requiring college-level education or apprenticeship training, make up more than one-third of workers in the province during the 2022-2024 period. Job opportunities are comparable to this number.Intermediate occupations, classified as those usually requiring high school and/or job-specific training, are expected to contribute to just over one-quarter of all opportunities. Nearly two-thirds of these opportunities are anticipated to arise due to attrition, while overall job growth will be below average. Labouring occupations, classified as those usually having no formal education requirements, are projected to have the lowest rates of both growth and attrition. Previous growth, associated with the economic recovery from pandemic containment measures, has slowed.IT Job OpportunitiesJob opportunities, organized by four-digit National Occupational Classifications (NOC), reveal that the second largest number of anticipated opportunities fall under the information systems analysts and consultants occupational unit group. The annual opportunity rate of 7.6 per cent is expected to be the third-highest rate among all occupations, and is attributable to a 5.5 per cent growth rate—more than three times the average for all occupations. The IT sector, which is concentrated in Halifax, has expanded quickly in recent years and is expected to continue to do so.Employment Prospect AnalysisIn the 2022-2024 forecast scenario, employment prospect calls (EPC) were produced for 316 occupation unit groups (4-digit NOCs). Together, these occupations account for 96% of employment in Nova Scotia. A Good or Very Good call indicates that a job seeker has a relatively high likelihood of finding work. Examples of IT occupations with a Good or Very Good call in the Halifax region include: information systems analysts and consultants, computer programmers and interactive media developers, and software engineers and designers.