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February 28, 2024JOB VACANCIES, DECEMBER 2023 Monthly (December vs November 2023, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia had 16,330 job vacancies in December 2023 with a vacancy rate of 3.6%. Job vacancies increased by 2,780 from November.
Canadian employers were actively recruiting for 637,365 positions in December with a vacancy rate of 3.6%. National job vacancies declined in December, continuing the downward trend that began in early 2022. The highest vacancy rate was reported in British Columbia and Saskatchewan while the lowest vacancy rate was reported in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The national job vacancy rate declined in December 2023 due to declines in New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. Job vacancy rates increased in five provinces, including Nova Scotia, and were unchanged in two provinces.
When compared to November 2023, the number of job vacancies in Nova Scotia increased 20.5% or 2,780 jobs. National job vacancies declined 2.6% or 17,335 jobs. Job vacancies increased in seven provinces led by Prince Edward Island. New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario reported fewer vacancies compared to November.
Year-over-year (December 2023 vs December 2022)
When compared to December 2022, the job vacancy rate in Nova Scotia declined 0.7 percentage points. Nationally, job vacancy rate declined from 4.8% to 3.6%. Compared to one year earlier, the job vacancy rate declined in all provinces.
When compared to December 2022, the number of job vacancies in Nova Scotia declined 16.6% or 3,250 vacancies. National job vacancies declined 24.7% or 209,160 vacant jobs. All provinces saw declines in the number of vacancies over the twelve month period ending in December. In percentage terms, Quebec and Ontario declined the most.
Trend
Nationally, job vacancy rates are on a downward trend after peaking in March-May 2022. Nova Scotia's job vacancy rate peaked in May 2022 and have also been on a downward trend with more uneven progress. The Nova Scotia job vacancy rate has been below the national rate for most of this period. In December, the job vacancy rate in Nova Scotia was the same as the national rate.
Canada job vacancy rate and job vacancies by industry, December 2023
Nationally, the accommodation and food services (6.1%), health care and social assistance, and personal repair services (both 5.1%) industries had the highest job vacancy rates.
The next highest job vacancy rates in Canada were reported in construction, transportation, agriculture, forestry and fishing, and administration, support and waste management (including call centres). The lowest vacancy rates were in education, management of companies, and information and culture.
Health care and social assistance had the highest number of vacancies at 125,890 in December. The number of vacancies declined in every reported industry with available data compared to one year ago.
Notes: The job vacancy rate is the percentage of job positions (both filled and vacant) that are vacant. 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.
Information on monthly job vacancies will continue in future Statistics Canada releases, and a more detailed analysis will be released with quarterly estimates from the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0432-01 Job vacancies, payroll employees, and job vacancy rate by provinces and territories, monthly, adjusted for seasonality, Table 14-10-0406-01 Job vacancies, payroll employees, and job vacancy rate by industry sector, monthly, adjusted for seasonality
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