Engineering Labour Market Tracking System Labour Market Conditions 2009 - 2018

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Atlantic Canada Overview (click below for other jurisdictions)

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National

The Economy   A brief summary of expected economic conditions is presented here and a complete write-up of the Center for Spatial Economics January, 2010 Provincial forecast is attached in Appendix A.   Economic conditions in the Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) have held up well during the recession.  While other provinces had major economic losses, activity in the Maritimes paused – with no overall decline. Government stimulus and related infrastructure projects are one reason for the limited impacts of the recession.  Recovery will be slow, partly because governments will have to limit spending and investments after 2011 to reduce deficits and debt accumulated during the recession.
Major projects are a big part of the story.  Project cancellations in New Brunswick will remove important opportunities.  In Nova Scotia there are numerous and smaller projects in government, manufacturing, utilities and resource initiatives that will prompt growth during the recovery.   Jobs are created and labour markets impacted first by the start up of major construction projects and then by the operations of new manufacturing, mining, and utility facilities.    The economic cycle has been much more volatile in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Weak exports and housing markets prompted a deep recession in 2009.  But prospects for recovery are also good as there are several major projects planned that will boost the economy in 2010 and beyond.  Production schedules for several major resource operations will also stop and start the provincial economy over the scenario period.    Demographic factors play a common role across all of Atlantic Canada.   Older age profiles and very limited population growth will restrict each economy.  Much will depend on immigration as a source of new workers.  These demographic changes will reduce unemployment and limit recruiting opportunities for many employers.  Tight labour markets will become more common.
Labour Force   It is not yet possible to track individual engineering markets in each of the Atlantic provinces.   Statistics Canada Census estimates reported 9,350 engineers in Atlantic Canada in 2006 and growth to 9,600 by 2009 based on trends taken from the Labour Force Survey.
Exhibit H – Atlantic Labour Market 2006c 2009e   (Census) (Estimated Trend) Total Engineers 9350 9605 Source: Statistics Canada, Prism Economics and Analysis