Nova Scotia Employment Trends
The unemployment rate in Nova Scotia was 6.7% as of April 2026, down 0.2% from the previous month. The unemployment rate stood 7% below the peak from June 2020 and is below the long-run average.
There were 500 fewer full-time jobs in April 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a gain of 1,900 part-time positions, this led to an increase of 1,400 total jobs in April.
Full-time employment was down 1,100 jobs from the peak in January 2026.
* All figures are seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving averages. Seasonal adjustment removes normal seasonal fluctuations.
Halifax-Dartmouth Employment Trends
The unemployment rate in Halifax was 6% as of April 2026, down 0.1% from the previous month. The unemployment rate stood 6.1% below the peak from June 2020 and is below the long-run average.
There were 300 fewer full-time jobs in April 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a gain of 1,900 part-time positions, this led to an increase of 1,600 total jobs in April.
Full-time employment was down 2,300 jobs from the peak in July 2025 but stood 3,700 jobs above the trough in December 2025.
* All figures are seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving averages. Seasonal adjustment removes normal seasonal fluctuations.
