CB Unemployment Down Slightly; Numbers Up Nationally, Provincially
Cape Breton’s unemployment rate went down slightly last month, according to Stats Canada’s monthly labour force survey. The three month moving average stood at 13.7 percent in August, down from an even 14% in July, but up from 12.9% in August of 2014. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Nova Scotia went up from 8.1 percent in July to 8.4 percent last month. There was a gain of 700 full-time jobs, which was offset by a loss of 2,500 part-time jobs. The overall labour force went down by 700. Nationally, the economy added 12,000 jobs last month, but the unemployment rate went up to a seasonally adjusted seven per cent as more people were looking for work. Before August, the unemployment rate had been steady since January, at 6.8 per cent. 54,400 full time jobs were added during August, but that figure was slightly offset by a drop of 42,400 part-time positions.