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March 21, 2023JOB VACANCIES AND WAGES, Q4 2022 Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate was 4.9% in the fourth quarter of 2022, representing 21,700 job vacancies. Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate is higher than the 4.8% vacancy rate (20,330 vacancies) observed during the fourth quarter of 2021.
The national job vacancy rate was 4.8%, down from 5.3% in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Across Canada, Q4 2022 job vacancy rates were highest in British Columbia and Quebec. The lowest job vacancy rate was reported in Newfoundland and Labrador. Compared to Q4 2021, vacancy rates decreased for seven provinces.
The average wage offered for a vacant position in Q4 2022 was $21.85 per hour in Nova Scotia, up 11.5% from $19.60 in Q4 2021. The national average wage increased to $24.90 per hour, up from $22.95 in Q4 2021.
Compared with Q4 2021, the average wage offered increased 8.5% nationally. Average wages on vacant positions were highest in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, and lowest in the Maritimes. Average wages offered on vacant positions increased in all provinces.
Among Nova Scotia's economic regions, Q4 2022 job vacancy rates were highest in North Shore and Halifax. Cape Breton, the Annapolis Valley, and Southern had lower job vacancy rates compared to the same quarter in 2021.
Compared with Q4 2021, average wages on vacant positions increased in all regions.
Across sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's Q4 2022 job vacancy rates were higher than the national average in agriculture/forestry/fishing, construction, transportation, finance/insurance, professional and technical services, administrative and support/waste management and remediation services, educational services, health care and social assistance, and accommodation and food sectors.
Compared to the national average, the wages offered for vacant positions in Nova Scotia were lower for all sectors in Q4 2022 except agriculture/forestry/fishing. The largest wage differences were found in real estate/rentals, mining/oil/gas, finance/insurance, and information/culture.
Across sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's job vacancy rates increased the most compared to Q4 2021 in healthcare and social assistance, agriculture/forestry/fishing, and finance and insurance. Suppressed data are labelled as 'n/a'.
For sectors with available data, Nova Scotia's average hourly wages on vacant positions were highest in utilities. The fastest wage gains (Q4 2022 vs Q4 2021) were in agriculture/forestry/fishing, management of companies, health care and social assistance, manufacturing as well as in arts, entertainment and recreation sectors.
Average wages on vacant positions in real estate and rentals declined over this period.
Of the 21,700 job vacancies reported in Nova Scotia during Q4 2022, the largest number (7,520) were in sales and service occupations. Sales/service vacancies increased 0.3% compared to the same quarter of 2021. Among occupations with data, vacancies increased the most in health, education/law/community/government, and business/finance/administration.
Average wages offered on vacant positions in Nova Scotia during Q4 2022 were highest for natural/applied sciences and management occupations. Occupations in sales and service and natural resource/agriculture had the lowest wages offered on vacant positions in Q4 2022.
In Q4 2022, 61.3% of vacant positions in Nova Scotia required high school or lower levels of education, down from 63.9% of vacancies in Q4 2021. In percentage terms, vacancies increased the most for positions that require a university certificate or bachelor’s level.
Wages offered for vacant positions requiring high school or lower education were on average less than wages offered on vacancies requiring more education. The fastest growth in wages offered (compared to Q4 2021) were for positions requiring a non-university diploma, high school as well as for those requiring no education. Wages offered were up compared to the same quarter in 2021 for all education levels.
The number of vacant positions requiring less than one year of experience increased 5.0% (+620) compared to Q4 2021. The average wage offered on vacant positions increased for all years of experience except eight or more years of experience.
Notes: Data collection activities were suspended from the start of the pandemic in March to September 2020. There remains a gap in the dataset for this survey.
This release provides data on the portion of jobs in a particular region, sector or occupation that are vacant. It also provides information on the wages offered on vacant positions as well as education and experience requirements. A higher job vacancy rate indicates a tighter labour market where it is more difficult for employers to find suitable candidates for the positions offered. A lower job vacancy rate signals labour market slack and potentially more job seekers competing for each vacant position.
JVWS data are not seasonally adjusted. Therefore, quarter-to-quarter comparisons should be interpreted with caution as they may reflect seasonal movements.
Source: Statistics Canada.
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