Nova Scotia Employment Trends
The unemployment rate in Nova Scotia was 6.7% as of January 2026, up 0.1% from the previous month. The unemployment rate stood 7% below the peak from June 2020 and is below the long-run average.
There were 1,400 more full-time jobs in January 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a loss of 300 part-time positions, this led to an increase of 1,100 total jobs in January.
Full-time employment has recovered since reaching a bottom in June 2025 and now stands at a record high.
* 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 5.8% as of January 2026, up 0.1% from the previous month. The unemployment rate stood 6.3% below the peak from June 2020 and is below the long-run average.
There were 1,800 more full-time jobs in January 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a loss of 1,100 part-time positions, this led to an increase of 700 total jobs in January.
Full-time employment was down 4,500 jobs from the peak in July 2025 but stood 1,800 jobs above the trough in December 2025.
* All figures are seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving averages. Seasonal adjustment removes normal seasonal fluctuations.
