Canada's Changing Labour Force, 2006 Census: The provinces and territories

Employment growth below national average in Atlantic Canada

In all four Atlantic provinces, employment increased at a below-average pace. The slowest pace was in Prince Edward Island, with an average 0.9% annual employment growth. Declines in both wholesale trade and manufacturing offset gains in public administration.

In New Brunswick, employment growth averaged 1.2% annually. Employment in administrative and support services and construction both increased by 3,500. However, a loss of 3,200 workers in the manufacturing sector reduced those gains.

Employment in Newfoundland and Labrador rose by an average of 1.4% per year between 2001 and 2006. This was nearly three times as fast as its average annual employment growth of 0.5% between 1996 and 2001. Three industries accounted for a total of 7,000 new workers in the province: administrative and support services; mining, oil and gas extraction; and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.

Employment growth accelerated in Nova Scotia to 1.5%, just below the national average. The province gained 5,500 health care and social assistance workers; 5,100 administrative and support workers and 4,500 retail trade staff. Nova Scotia experienced a decline of 1,300 in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting employment.

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