New Brunswick Labour Force Trends - April 2021 - NBjobs.ca
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New Brunswick Labour Force Trends April 2021
Table of Contents
Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Pre-Pandemic Trends .......................................................................................................................................................... 2
COVID-19 Pandemic ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
Trends in Labour Force Participation ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Pre-Pandemic Trends .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
COVID-19 Pandemic ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Industry Trends ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Pre-Pandemic Trends .......................................................................................................................................................... 7
COVID-19 Pandemic ............................................................................................................................................................ 8
Wages.................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Pre-Pandemic Trends ........................................................................................................................................................ 10
COVID-19 Pandemic .......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Sub-Provincial ....................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Pre-Pandemic Trends ........................................................................................................................................................ 11
COVID-19 Pandemic .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Education .............................................................................................................................................................................. 14
New Brunswick
1 Labour Force TrendsOverview1 Within the labour force, the number of employed
individuals (12-month average) in the province grew to
Pre-Pandemic Trends 361,100 in 2019, up 0.8% (+2,700) from 2018. This
represented the fourth consecutive year of employment
Throughout 2019, there were an average of 393,000 growth in the province, after having had experienced
individuals participating in New Brunswick’s labour two consecutive years of declines. Nationally
force (i.e. employed or actively looking for work), up employment increased by 2.2% year-over-year.
0.8% (+3,300) from 2018. This represented the second
consecutive year of labour force growth in the province, Year-over-Year Change in Employment – 2018/19
after having had experienced four consecutive years of
declines. Nationally the labour force grew 2.1%. Canada +2.2%
N.L. +1.2%
Recent growth to the number of labour force
P.E.I. +3.4%
participants in New Brunswick has been driven primarily
N.S. +2.3%
by increased international migration levels. This growth,
N.B. +0.8%
however, has been (and will continue to be) limited by
Que. +2.0%
the significant number of retirements that have been
Ont. +2.8%
occurring in the province in recent years.
Man. +1.0%
Year-over-Year Change in Labour Force – 2018/19 Sask. +1.9%
Alta. +0.7%
Canada +2.1%
B.C. +3.0%
N.L. -1.0%
P.E.I. +2.5%
N.S. +2.0% Employment Growth Relative to 1999 – N.B., Atlantic
N.B. +0.8% Canada and Canada
Que. +1.7%
+40%
Ont. +2.7%
+30%
Man. +0.3%
+20%
Sask. +1.2%
Alta. +10%
+1.0%
B.C. +2.9% 0%
Labour Force Growth Relative to 1999 – N.B., Atlantic New Brunswick Atlantic Canada Canada
Canada and Canada
+40% The year-over-year employment increase in the
+30%
province was accompanied by a slight increase to the
+20%
+10% unemployment rate, from 8.0% to 8.1%. Leading up to
0% this small increase, New Brunswick’s unemployment
rate had decreased significantly between 2013 and
2018 (although still far exceeded the national rate of
New Brunswick Atlantic Canada Canada
5.7%).
1 Source(s): Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Tables 14-10-0287 and 14-10-0327.
New Brunswick
Labour Force Trends 2The recent downward trend in unemployment in the COVID-19 Pandemic
province has primarily been the result of increased
employment opportunities arising as the result of As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the various
retirements. restrictions and measures that were put in place in
response to it, the labour market was significantly
Unemployment Rate – N.B., Atlantic Canada and impacted.
Canada
After starting the year off by reaching record high
12%
employment levels, approximately 50,000 New
10%
Brunswickers lost their jobs between February and
8%
April. Despite this representing by far the largest two-
6%
month decline in employment on record (with
4%
comparable data available back to 1976), job loss
figures fail to capture the full extent of the pandemic’s
New Brunswick Atlantic Canada Canada
impact. In addition to the previously mentioned
employment losses, nearly 30,000 individuals, while still
technically considered employed, were working zero
Unemployment Rate – 2019 hours (for reasons likely attributable to the pandemic2)
Canada
during the initial lockdown and more than 6,000
5.7%
N.L.
individuals were working less than half of their usual
12.3%
P.E.I.
hours.
8.8%
N.S. 7.4% While New Brunswick was significantly impacted at the
N.B. 8.1% onset of the pandemic, due to its relatively low case
Que. 5.1% count, it was among the first provinces to begin to
Ont. 5.6% recover. In June, New Brunswick had the lowest
Man. 5.3% unemployment rate in the country (tied with
Sask. 5.6% Manitoba), and ranked first among the provinces in
Alta. 7.0% terms of employment as a percentage of pre-pandemic
B.C. 4.7% (February) levels, at 97.1% (with Manitoba ranking
second at 92.9%).
Labour Force Characteristics – New Brunswick
12-Month Averages Selected Months (Seasonally Adjusted)
2019 2020 Feb 2020 Apr 2020 June 2020 Feb 2021
Population (Aged 15+) 642,700 646,900 645,900 646,300 646,700 648,400
Labour Force 393,000 390,700 394,000 363,600 395,400 394,200
Employment 361,100 351,600 365,400 315,300 354,700 359,200
Full-Time Employment 306,900 299,900 314,100 275,400 299,700 302,200
Part-Time Employment 54,200 51,700 51,300 40,000 55,100 57,000
Unemployment 31,900 39,100 28,600 48,300 40,700 35,000
Participation Rate 61.1% 60.4% 61.0% 56.3% 61.1% 60.8%
Employment Rate 56.2% 54.4% 56.6% 48.8% 54.8% 55.4%
Unemployment Rate 8.1% 10.0% 7.3% 13.3% 10.3% 8.9%
2Employed, worked zero hours includes employees and self-employed who were absent from work all week, but excludes people who have been
away for reasons such as 'vacation,' 'maternity,' 'seasonal business 'and labour dispute.'
New Brunswick
3 Labour Force TrendsEmployment Losses and Individuals Working Zero Its important to note that while labour force and
Hours Relative to February 2020 – New Brunswick employment levels towards the end of 2020 and
(Seasonally Adjusted) through the beginning of 2021 pointed towards the
100,000 economy being close to a full recovery, many workers
80,000 were still working reduced hours and/or were employed
60,000 in jobs that were only able to exist due to government
40,000 support programs such as the Canada Emergency Wage
20,000 Subsidy. A full return to pre-pandemic levels of output
0 will likely stretch into 2022 (or beyond).
Jul-20
Jun-20
Apr-20
May-20
Nov-20
Aug-20
Feb-20
Mar-20
Sep-20
Dec-20
Jan-21
Feb-21
Oct-20
Employment Losses Relative to Feb 2020
Employment Losses Relative to Feb 2020 +
Individuals Working Zero Hours
Following this initial bounce back however, the recovery
slowed down. As of February 2021, employment in New
Brunswick had reached 98.3% of its February 2020 total
(compared to 96.9% at a national level).
Employment Relative to February 2020 (Seasonally
Adjusted)
New Brunswick
100%
95%
Canada
90%
85%
80%
Jul-20
May-20
Jun-20
Apr-20
Nov-20
Aug-20
Dec-20
Feb-20
Mar-20
Sep-20
Jan-21
Feb-21
Oct-20
Employment in February 2021 Relative to February
2020 (Seasonally Adjusted)
Canada 96.9%
N.L. 92.4%
P.E.I. 95.2%
N.S. 99.6%
N.B. 98.3%
Que. 96.8%
Ont. 95.9%
Man. 97.4%
Sask. 96.0%
Alta. 96.9%
B.C. 99.4%
New Brunswick
Labour Force Trends 4Trends in Labour Force Participation3 Participation Rate Among the Population Aged 25 to
54 Years by Educational Attainment – 2019
Pre-Pandemic Trends 67.0%
Less than high school
63.6%
Throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s, New
81.8%
High school graduate
Brunswick’s labour force participation rate rose slowly 80.5%
but steadily. Between 1979 and 2009, the participation Postsecondary 90.7%
rate among typical working-age individuals (aged 15 to certificate/diploma 89.4%
64 years) grew from 62.4% to 76.3%. Increases in 90.9%
University degree
94.1%
labour force participation over this time were primarily
driven by increased participation among women. During Canada New Brunswick
this time, the participation rate among typical working-
age women in New Brunswick increased by 25.4 Sex-specific participation rates, and the gaps between
percentage points (from 47.4% to 72.8%), compared to them, vary significantly by age; however, in general,
2.2 percentage points among typical working-age men women are less likely to be participating in the labour
(from 77.6% to 79.8%). force than men across nearly all age categories (with
the one exception in New Brunswick in 2019 being the
Since this time, increases in participation have slowed “25 to 29 years” age range).
down. As of 2019, the participation rate among typical
working-age individuals in the province was 77.1% Participation Rate by Sex and Age Group – New
(74.5% among women and 79.7% among men). Brunswick – 2019
Nationally, the typical working-age participation rate
54.7%
was 78.7% in 2019 (75.2% among women, 82.2% among 15 to 19 years
54.8%
men). 80.4%
20 to 24 years
76.5%
Participation Rate Among Population Aged 15 to 64 88.0%
25 to 54 years
Years - New Brunswick 84.5%
76.1%
100% 55 to 59 years
68.9%
80% 60.9%
60 to 64 years
45.4%
60%
26.6%
65 to 69 years
40% 17.2%
Males
20% 10.4%
70 years and over
Females
Both sexes Males Females
Recent increases in labour force participation among
the typical working-age population have primarily been
the result of increased participation among older
individuals. Participation rates among younger age
groups have generally not changed significantly since
2009.
3 Source(s): Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Tables 14-10-0117, 14-10-0118, 14-10-0287 and 14-10-0327.
New Brunswick
5 Labour Force TrendsCOVID-19 Pandemic One factor that may be contributing to this trend could
be the type of work that is available. Students and other
While some workers were fortunate enough to only be youth without post-secondary credentials may be more
laid off for a short period of time during the initial willing than post-secondary graduates to accept low-
lockdown, many others were laid off indefinitely or skill and/or part-time job opportunities.
permanently. This led to a sharp reduction in labour
force participation, particularly among the youth Year-over-Year Change in Participation Rate Between
population. Dec 2019 to Feb 2020 and Dec 2020 to Feb 2021 (3-
Month Averages) by Age and Educational Attainment
In April, the participation rate among individuals aged – New Brunswick
15 to 24 years was down 11.3 percentage points year-
over-year (50.9% in April 2020 compared to 62.2% in +8.2 p.p.
15 to 24 years
-2.0 p.p.
April 2019). This drop included a 14.0 percentage point
year-over-year drop among individuals in this age range +0.7 p.p.
with only a high school diploma or less and a 9.8 25 to 54 years
+0.4 p.p.
percentage point drop among individuals with post-
secondary credentials. These decreases were -3.3 p.p.
55 years and over
significantly larger than those seen among the +1.4 p.p.
population aged 25 years and over.
High school diploma or less
Year-over-Year Change in Participation Rate Between Postsecondary certificate/diploma
April 2019 and April 2020 by Age and Educational
Attainment – New Brunswick Another group that has somewhat struggled to recover
has been individuals aged 55 years and over with a high
-14.0 p.p.
15 to 24 years school diploma or less, particularly women.
-9.8 p.p.
-6.2 p.p.
25 to 54 years
-4.8 p.p.
+1.0 p.p.
55 years and over
-3.4 p.p.
High school diploma or less
Postsecondary certificate/diploma
More recent estimates suggest that the participation
rate in the province has since recovered to near pre-
pandemic levels among many groups, despite
unemployment remaining relatively high. While labour
force participation among the youth population as a
whole has seemingly recovered, participation among
those with post-secondary credentials has continued to
lag behind, while participation among youth with a high
school diploma or less has seen a noticeable increase.
New Brunswick
Labour Force Trends 6Industry Trends4 Between 2014 and 2019, the greatest employment
growth was seen in the following sectors:
Pre-Pandemic Trends • Agriculture (+45.0%; 4,000 to 5,800)
• Information, culture and recreation (+20.2%;
Employment in the following sectors was proportionally
10,900 to 13,100)
much more common in New Brunswick compared to
the country as a whole in 2019: • Health care and social assistance (+18.0%;
51,700 to 61,000)
• Fishing, hunting and trapping
• Public administration (+16.4%; 22,500 to
• Forestry and logging and support activities for
26,200)
forestry
• Public administration In contrast, the following sectors saw the greatest
• Health care and social assistance employment losses during this time:
• Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
On the other hand, employment in the following sectors
(-26.3%; 5,700 to 4,200)
was proportionally much less common in New
• Business, building and other support services
Brunswick compared to the country as a whole in 2019:
(-16.4%; 19,500 to 16,300)
• Professional, scientific and technical services
• Forestry and logging and support activities for
• Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and
forestry (-16.3%; 4,300 to 3,600)
leasing
• Information, culture and recreation
Employment by Sector - New Brunswick - 2019
Agriculture 5,800
Forestry and logging and support activities for forestry 3,600
Fishing, hunting and trapping 2,400
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 4,200
Utilities 3,600
Construction 25,000
Manufacturing 31,500
Wholesale and retail trade 52,100
Transportation and warehousing 18,900
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 16,700
Professional, scientific and technical services 17,200
Business, building and other support services 16,300
Educational services 27,500
Health care and social assistance 61,000
Information, culture and recreation 13,100
Accommodation and food services 21,900
Other services (except public administration) 14,000
Public administration 26,200
4 Source(s): Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Tables 14-10-0023 and 14-10-0026.
New Brunswick
7 Labour Force TrendsCOVID-19 Pandemic Since April, many industries have begun to recover,
although many still remain vulnerable. A few of the
There were very few businesses that were not affect by industries that continue to be heavily impacted include:
the pandemic-driven lockdown measures. The bulk of
• Tourism-related industries
the job losses that occurred at the onset of the
• Agriculture
pandemic were in the private sector however, with
• Construction
businesses in the following sectors being among the
hardest hit: Its important to note that even among industries that
• Tourism-related industries (accommodation and have shown signs of recovery, in many cases, the
food services, information, culture and recovery was not only the result of the easing of
recreation, travel, etc.) restrictions but may have also been due to the
• Construction introduction of government support programs such as
• Retail trade (with some exceptions such as food the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). Close to
retailers, building supplies stores and general $1 billion had been paid out to New Brunswick
merchandise stores) employers (and in turn, employees) through the CEWS
• Business support services (e.g. call centres) as of February 2021. Uptake for the CEWS was
• Personal and laundry services (e.g. hairdressers) particularly high in the accommodation and food
• Manufacturing services sector.
• Agriculture
Year-over-Year Change in Employment Between April 2019 and April 2020 by Sector - New Brunswick
Public sector
Health care and social assistance +6.1%
Educational services -10.2%
Other public sector employees -4.3%
Professional, scientific and technical services -1.8%
Transportation and warehousing -5.0%
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing -9.0%
Wholesale and retail trade -14.1%
Health care and social assistance -15.2%
Construction -17.9%
Private sector
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas -21.5%
Business, building and other support services -22.1%
Manufacturing -23.5%
Agriculture -32.6%
Information, culture and recreation -35.0%
Other services -36.4%
Accommodation and food services -43.6%
Other private sector employees -52.6%
New Brunswick
Labour Force Trends 8Year-over-Year Change in Employment Between Dec 2019 to Feb 2020 and Dec 2020 to Feb 2021 (3-Month Averages) by
Sector - New Brunswick
Public sector
Health care and social assistance +13.7%
Educational services +5.5%
Other public sector employees +10.1%
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing +9.4%
Wholesale and retail trade +6.4%
Other services -0.7%
Professional, scientific and technical services -0.8%
Accommodation and food services -6.0%
Health care and social assistance -7.0%
Private sector
Manufacturing -7.5%
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas -8.5%
Transportation and warehousing -9.1%
Business, building and other support services -10.8%
Construction -14.2%
Information, culture and recreation -23.5%
Agriculture -29.1%
Other private sector employees -30.6%
New Brunswick
9 Labour Force TrendsWages5 When comparing high-level wage or income statistics
such as these, it’s important to keep in mind that there
Pre-Pandemic Trends are a number of factors that may be having an
influence, such as:
In 2019, the median hourly wage rate among
• The type of occupations and/or industries that
employees in New Brunswick was $20.18. This
individuals work in
represented the third lowest median among the
• Education and experience levels
provinces and was well below the national median of
$24.00. While factors such as education and • Factors such as job tenure, part-time/full-time
demographics account for some of this gap, even when status, and union coverage
these factors are controlled for, a noticeable gap • Discrimination (whether it’s based on sex,
persists. sexual orientation, race, age, religion, parental
status, etc.)
Within the province, males earned noticeably more
than females. In 2019, the median hourly wage rate was
$21.00 among males compared to $19.50 among
females. An even larger gap existed at a national level,
where these rates were $25.79 and $22.00 respectively.
This gap is most prominent among lower education
levels.
Median Hourly Wage Rate Among Employees by Highest Level of Education - 2019
$45.00
$35.00 N.B.
$32.31
$32.00
Other Provinces
$25.00 $25.00
$21.50 Canada
$19.69 $17.50
$17.00 $16.75
$15.00 $15.00 $15.51 $15.05
$13.50
$5.00
0 0 to 81Years Some2 High 3
High School 4
Some 5
Post- 6
University 7
School Graduate Post- Secondary Degree
Secondary Certificate
Median Hourly Wage Rate Among Employees by Highest Level of Education – N.B. and Canada – 2019
New Brunswick Canada
Male Female Male Female
0 to 8 Years $17.00 $13.50 $16.60 $14.55
Some High School $15.20 $12.25 $18.00 $14.50
High School Graduate $18.00 $15.00 $19.00 $16.50
Some Post-Secondary $17.50 $14.24 $20.00 $18.00
Post-Secondary Certificate $23.53 $20.00 $25.00 $20.15
University Degree $33.06 $31.28 $33.11 $32.00
5 Source(s): Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Tables 14-10-0301 and 14-10-0340 and Special Data Purchase.
New Brunswick
Labour Force Trends 10COVID-19 Pandemic In contrast to southern parts of the province,
employment declined in the northern regions. Year-over-
Amidst the pandemic, the median hourly wage rate year, Northeast New Brunswick saw employment
among employees in New Brunswick increased from decrease by 4,300 (-6.7%), while the Northwest region
$20.12 to $21.00 per hour in 2020, a 4.4% increase. This saw employment decrease by 1,100 (-2.9%).
increase was in large part driven by job losses among
low wage earners. Furthermore, among employees
who managed to keep their jobs (or find new jobs),
many were working reduced hours, limiting their total
earnings.
One group that did see a substantial increase to their
earnings were individuals employed in management
occupations. Between 2019 and 2020, the median
hourly wage rate of managers increased by 13.8%. At
the same time, both employment (+7.6%) and average
hours worked (+1.1%) increased among this group.
Sub-Provincial6
Pre-Pandemic Trends
Labour market conditions in New Brunswick vary
significantly by geographic location. While the province’s
three major centres – Moncton, Saint John and Looking over a slightly longer period, Greater Saint John,
Fredericton – all have relatively low unemployment rates Greater Fredericton, and Greater Moncton saw 3.6%,
and relatively high participation rates, more rural parts of 9.7% and 7.1% employment growth between 2014 and
the province, especially in the Northeast, generally have 2019 respectively. On the other hand, southern New
low rates of labour force participation and high rates of Brunswick outside of its three major centres saw
unemployment. This is in large part a reflection of the employment decline by 5.4% during this time, while the
fact that employment opportunities in New Brunswick province’s Northeast and Northwest regions saw declines
are largely concentrated in or around its three largest of 3.4% and 0.8% respectively.
cities (Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton), a trend that Greater Fredericton (6.4% to 5.7%) and Greater Moncton
has become more pronounced over time. (6.0% to 5.7%), both saw their unemployment rates fall
Year-over-year, Greater Saint John (+3,000; +4.7%), year-over-year, while Greater Saint John (6.3% to 6.8%),
Greater Fredericton (+2,300; +4.2%), and Greater Northeast N.B. (12.6% to 13.0%) and Northwest N.B.
Moncton (+1,300; +1.6%) all experienced gains in (6.5% to 7.2%) all saw their rates increase.
employment, while other parts of southern New In the longer term, all regions of the province have seen
Brunswick also saw employment levels increase (+1,700; their unemployment rates trend downwards over the
+2.9%). past several years, with the Northeast and Northwest
seeing the most dramatic decreases, and rural southern
parts of the province seeing the least change.
6 Source(s): Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Tables 14-10-0378, 14-10-0385, 14-10-0387 and 14-10-0393.
New Brunswick
11 Labour Force TrendsEmployment Growth – Selected Regions – 2014 to 2019 Unemployment Rate – Selected Regions – 2019
Greater Moncton +7.1% Greater Moncton 5.7%
Greater Saint John +3.6% Greater Saint John 6.8%
Greater Fredericton +9.7% Greater Fredericton 5.7%
Other Southern N.B. -5.4% Other Southern N.B. 10.2%
Northeast N.B. -3.4% Northeast N.B. 13.0%
Northwest N.B. -0.8% Northwest N.B. 7.2%
COVID-19 Pandemic
Labour Force Statistics – Selected Regions – 2014 to 2019
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Greater Moncton
Employment 75,100 76,600 76,000 75,300 79,100 80,400
Participation rate 66.9% 67.8% 66.7% 64.2% 66.1% 65.8%
Employment rate 62.3% 63.0% 61.7% 60.3% 62.3% 62.0%
Unemployment rate 6.9% 7.0% 7.4% 6.1% 6.0% 5.7%
Greater Saint John
Employment 64,700 63,900 64,200 66,600 64,000 67,000
Participation rate 65.7% 65.5% 65.3% 65.9% 63.2% 65.9%
Employment rate 60.6% 59.9% 60.1% 62.0% 59.2% 61.4%
Unemployment rate 7.8% 8.3% 8.0% 5.9% 6.1% 6.8%
Greater Fredericton
Employment 51,500 53,100 54,900 53,100 54,200 56,500
Participation rate 65.7% 66.7% 68.2% 63.6% 64.4% 65.3%
Employment rate 60.4% 61.9% 63.2% 60.1% 60.3% 61.6%
Unemployment rate 8.0% 7.2% 7.3% 5.5% 6.4% 5.7%
Other Southern N.B.7
Employment 64,400 59,900 60,300 61,200 59,200 60,900
Participation rate 62.4% 59.3% 59.1% 59.0% 57.4% 58.7%
Employment rate 56.1% 52.3% 52.5% 53.3% 51.5% 52.8%
Unemployment rate 10.1% 12.1% 11.2% 9.5% 9.9% 10.2%
Northeast N.B. 64,400 59,900 60,300 61,200 59,200 60,900
Employment 62,200 62,600 60,300 62,800 64,400 60,100
Participation rate 56.4% 55.6% 53.9% 54.8% 55.7% 52.3%
Employment rate 46.7% 47.0% 45.2% 47.3% 48.7% 45.5%
Unemployment rate 17.3% 15.5% 16.0% 13.9% 12.6% 13.0%
Northwest N.B.
Employment 36,600 37,000 37,800 37,200 37,400 36,300
Participation rate 61.9% 63.0% 62.4% 61.9% 61.8% 60.3%
Employment rate 56.0% 56.8% 58.1% 57.3% 57.8% 56.0%
Unemployment rate 9.6% 9.8% 6.9% 7.5% 6.5% 7.2%
7For the purposes of this document, “Other Southern N.B.” refers to New Brunswick’s Southeast, Southwest and Central Economic Regions
excluding the cities and surrounding areas of Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.
New Brunswick
Labour Force Trends 12Individuals across all parts of New Brunswick were As previously mentioned, while employment estimates
affected by the pandemic in 2020; however, some may point towards the economy being close to a full
regions were affected less than others. In terms of job recovery, many workers were still working reduced
losses at the onset of the pandemic, estimates suggest hours and/or were employed in jobs that were only able
that the Greater Saint John area was possibly the to exist due to government support programs such as
hardest hit area in the province, while the Greater the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.
Moncton area and the Northwest were arguably the
least impacted.
Year-over-Year Change in Employment Between Mar-
May 2019 and Mar-May 2020 (3-Month Averages) –
Selected Regions
Greater Moncton -3.6%
Greater Saint John -14.7%
Greater Fredericton -11.2%
Other Southern N.B. -7.7%
Northeast N.B. -10.4%
Northwest N.B. -3.4%
Since the initial disruption, most areas of the province
have seen a partial recovery. While employment in
some parts of the province, such as the Greater Saint
John area and the Northwest region, continued to lag
behind in early 2021, other areas of the province,
particularly the Greater Fredericton area and Northeast
region, were seeing employment totals that exceeded
pre-pandemic levels.
Year-over-Year Change in Employment Between Dec
2019 to Feb 2020 and Dec 2020 to Feb 2021 (3-Month
Averages) – Selected Regions
Greater Moncton -2.5%
Greater Saint John -4.4%
Greater Fredericton +8.2%
Other Southern N.B. -4.8%
Northeast N.B. +4.7%
Northwest N.B. -9.7%
New Brunswick
13 Labour Force TrendsEducation8 Post-secondary educational attainment levels in New
Brunswick varied significantly by:
The educational attainment of New Brunswick’s
• Geography: Only 49.7% of New Brunswickers
population is in part a reflection of the skills demanded
aged 25 to 64 years who were living in
by the province’s employers, or more broadly, its labour
communities outside of the province’s seven
market. In general, compared to the country as a whole,
main cities or their surrounding areas had some
there is somewhat less demand for workers with post-
form of post-secondary education, compared to
secondary credentials in New Brunswick. This is likely a
62.2% of those that were living in one of those
contributing factor for New Brunswick’s educational
seven centres or their surrounding areas.
attainment levels being among the lowest in the
• Age: Only 47.5% of New Brunswickers aged 55
country.
to 64 years had completed some form of post-
Post-Secondary Education Completion Rate Among the secondary education, compared to 65.1% of
Population Aged 25 to 64 Years – 2016 individuals aged 25 to 44 years.
Canada 65%
• Sex: Only 54.4% of male New Brunswickers
N.L. 62% aged 25 to 64 years had completed some form
P.E.I. 63% of post-secondary education, compared to
N.S. 64% 60.6% of females in this age range. This gap was
N.B. 58%
even larger among younger age groups.
Que. 68%
Ont. 65%
Man. 58% Post-Secondary Education Completion Rate Among
Sask. 58% Individuals Aged 25 to 64 Years – Selected Regions –
Alta. 64% 2016
B.C. 64%
Greater Moncton 64%
Greater Saint John 61%
At the time of the 2016 Census, 57.6% of New Greater Fredericton 68%
Other Southern N.B. 51%
Brunswickers between the ages of 25 and 64 had some
Greater Bathurst 55%
form of post-secondary credential, compared to 64.8% Greater Miramichi 57%
at a national level. Among labour force participants in Greater Campbellton 54%
this age range, these percentages were somewhat Greater Edmundston 56%
Other Northern N.B. 48%
higher, at 62.1% within New Brunswick, and 68.7%
nationally.
Compared to the general Canadian population, New
Post-Secondary Education Completion Rate by Age Brunswickers were somewhat more likely to have a
Group – New Brunswick – 2016 post-secondary certificate or diploma (specifically at the
college level), but much less likely to have a university
15 to 19 years 3%
degree.
20 to 24 years 43%
25 to 44 years 65%
45 to 54 years 57%
55 to 64 years 48%
65 years and over 41%
8 Source(s): Statistics Canada, 2016 Census of Population, Catalogue no. 98-400-X2016197.
New Brunswick
Labour Force Trends 14Post-Secondary Education Completion Rate by Age Group – N.B. and Canada – 2016
New Brunswick Canada
Total Male Female Total Male Female
15 to 19 years 3% 3% 3% 4% 4% 4%
20 to 24 years 43% 38% 49% 45% 40% 50%
25 to 44 years 65% 59% 71% 70% 66% 74%
45 to 54 years 57% 54% 59% 64% 63% 66%
55 to 64 years 48% 49% 46% 56% 58% 54%
65 years and over 41% 46% 37% 45% 52% 40%
Highest Certificate, Diploma or Degree Among Individuals Aged 25 to 64 – N.B. and Canada – 2016
New Brunswick Canada
Total Male Female Total Male Female
No Certificate, Diploma or Degree 14% 17% 11% 11% 13% 10%
High School or Equivalent 29% 29% 28% 24% 24% 23%
Post-Secondary 58% 54% 61% 65% 63% 67%
Apprenticeship/Trades 9% 14% 6% 11% 15% 7%
College/Non-University Certificate or Diploma 26% 22% 30% 22% 19% 25%
University, Below Bachelor Level 2% 1% 2% 3% 3% 4%
University, Bachelor Level 14% 12% 17% 19% 17% 21%
University, Above Bachelor Level 6% 5% 6% 10% 9% 10%
New Brunswick
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