Goal 7

Labour Force Participation Rate

Nova Scotia will have a labour force participation rate at least as high as the Canadian rate, bringing more Nova Scotians into permanent attachment to the labour market.


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Goal Status

donut shaped icon to signify the status of not progressing Not Progressing Not On Track
Current: 2.1
Baseline: 0.9
Target: 0
Updated:
Bands

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

Read more detailed information about this goal by clicking 'Deep Dive'

Labour Force Participation Rate Deep Dive

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