Current Situation
In 2023, Nova Scotia’s labour force participation rate for 15 to 64-year-olds was 78.1 per cent. Labour force participation edged down in 2023 following a decline in 2022. However, the Canadian rate increased in 2023, leaving the gap between the Nova Scotia and Canadian rates larger than it was in 2012. Nova Scotia’s labour force participation rate gap with the national rate was 2.1 percentage points in 2023.
| Year | Canada (target) | Nova Scotia |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 76.2 | 72.1 |
| 2001 | 76.3 | 73.1 |
| 2002 | 77.4 | 73.7 |
| 2003 | 78.2 | 74.4 |
| 2004 | 78.1 | 75.6 |
| 2005 | 77.7 | 75 |
| 2006 | 77.9 | 74.5 |
| 2007 | 78.3 | 75.4 |
| 2008 | 78.5 | 75.8 |
| 2009 | 78.2 | 76.5 |
| 2010 | 78 | 76.8 |
| 2011 | 78 | 76.6 |
| 2012 | 78.2 | 77.3 |
| 2013 | 78.4 | 77.7 |
| 2014 | 78.1 | 77.2 |
| 2015 | 78.3 | 76.8 |
| 2016 | 78.3 | 76.1 |
| 2017 | 78.7 | 76.6 |
| 2018 | 78.7 | 76.8 |
| 2019 | 79.2 | 77.9 |
| 2020 | 77.7 | 75.9 |
| 2021 | 79.4 | 78.7 |
| 2022 | 79.8 | 78.2 |
| 2023 | 80.2 | 78.1 |
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What This Means
The participation rate tells you the proportion of people in a particular age cohort who are active in the labour market – either employed or unemployed. The participation rate is driven largely by demographics but is also influenced by government policy, household preferences and business cycles. In recent years the rate has gradually declining following a strong rebound in 2021.
Deep Dive
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