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February 06, 2023INTERPROVINCIAL WORKERS 2002-2019 Statistics Canada has recently released revised and updated information on the number of people who report work (T4) earnings in one province while residing in another province. This data is updated to 2019.
The number of net interprovincial workers refers to those coming to work in Nova Scotia from another province, less those leaving Nova Scotia to work in another province. Net interprovincial workers have declined since a revised peak of -9,120 in 2014 to -3,580 in 2019.
Over the period from 2002 to 2019, there was an overall rise in the number of interprovincial workers outbound from Nova Scotia to other jurisdictions peaking at 24,890 in 2014. In 2019, there were 20,570 workers from Nova Scotia outbound for positions in other provinces. The number of workers inbound to work in Nova Scotia from other provinces has been more stable, though it has risen in the last two years of data to 16,990 in 2019.
The amounts earned by Nova Scotia workers in other provinces have declined to $825 million in 2019. Incoming workers earned $428 million for their work in Nova Scotia.
The rise in outbound interprovincial workers from Nova Scotia during 2002-2014 was concentrated in the construction sector and in oil/gas. Much of the decline in outbound workers from 2014-19 was due to a decline in outbound workers in these sectors (particularly in construction).
The rising number of inbound workers coming to Nova Scotia from 2016-2019 was notably concentrated in transportation, professional/technical services, finance/insurance, education, administrative/support/call centres and public administration.
Nova Scotia has its largest interprovincial worker flows with four provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta. Outbound interprovincial workers from Nova Scotia destined for Alberta have declined from 10,900 in 2014 to 4,020 in 2019. New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador were net positive contributors of interprovincial workers to Nova Scotia in 2019 while Ontario and Alberta were net negative drains on interprovincial workers from Nova Scotia.
The volumes of interprovincial workers were comparatively smaller for the remaining 6 provinces (vertical axis scales are 1/10th of those for Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador).
There were net positive interprovincial workers from Prince Edward Island and net negative interprovincial workers with all other provinces.
In 2019, the net impact of interprovincial workers (incoming less outbound) amounted to a drain of 0.9% on Nova Scotia's employment. This is measured as net interjurisdictional workers a share of resident workers plus those from other provinces working in Nova Scotia, less inbound workers to Nova Scotia. Only Ontario and Alberta reported a net gain in employment as a result of interprovincial workers in 2019.
In 2019, Nova Scotia had the third highest proportion of inbound workers (after Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island) as well as the 5th highest share of outbound workers Note that those inbound from another province may not count the number who work in both their home province and another province.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0433-01 Count of inter-jurisdictional employees and resident employees by age group and sex, 2002-2019; Table 14-10-0434-01 Aggregate T4 earnings for inter-jurisdictional employees and resident employees, 2002-2019; Table 14-10-0435-01 Total count and T4 earnings of inter-jurisdictional employees by industry of employment, 2002-2019; Table 14-10-0436-01 Total count and T4 earnings of inter-jurisdictional employees by target province or territory, 2002-2019
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