Industry highlights – Interprovincial workers, trade and Canada GDP by industry

Interprovincial workers, 2021

The following statistics were released from the Economics and Statistics Division on February 24, 2025. For full details from this dataset, click here.

  • Net interprovincial workers have declined since a revised peak of -9,730 in 2014 to -5,270 in 2021
  • The number of Nova Scotian residents that worked in other provinces or territories peaked at 24,040 in 2014
  • In 2021, there were 21,400 workers from Nova Scotia outbound for positions in other provinces
  • The number of workers inbound to work in Nova Scotia from rose to a new high of 16,130 in 2021 (previous high was 16,040 in 2006)
  • Both incoming and outgoing interprovincial workers contracted during 2020, reflecting the impacts of pandemic-related restrictions.

  • The rise in outbound interprovincial workers from Nova Scotia during 2002-2014 was concentrated in the construction sector and in oil/gas
  • Much of the decline in outbound workers from 2014-2021 was due to a decline in outbound workers in these sectors (particularly in construction)

  • In 2021, the net impact of interprovincial workers (incoming less outbound) amounted to a drain of 1.3% on Nova Scotia’s employment
  • In 2021, Nova Scotia had the second highest proportion of inbound workers (after Prince Edward Island) and the 5th highest share of outbound workers (after the other Atlantic Provinces and Saskatchewan)
Interprovincial trade, 2023

The following statistics were released from the Economics and Statistics Division on March 3, 2025. For full details from this dataset, click here.

  • In Nova Scotia, 28.1% of businesses reported interprovincial export sales
    • This was above the national average of 26.9% of respondent businesses
  • Interprovincial exports were most common among Alberta businesses and least common among businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • In Nova Scotia, wholesale trade, manufacturing, professional/technical services and mining reported the highest prevalence of interprovincial exporters

  • Nova Scotia’s businesses were substantially more likely to be importers of supplies from other provinces with 53.8% reporting inputs purchased from another province
  • Across Canada, 41.0% of businesses reported inputs purchased from another province
  • Among Nova Scotia businesses, wholesalers were the most prolific interprovincial importers, followed by manufacturers, miners and those in information/cultural industries

Obstacles to interprovincial trade

  • Over two-thirds of Nova Scotia businesses with interprovincial exports (68.4%) reported no obstacles when selling goods to other provinces or territories
  • Across Canada, just under two-thirds (66.2%) of interprovincial export businesses reported no obstacles to interprovincial exports
  • When asked about specific obstacles to interprovincial trade, the most commonly-reported obstacles were in transportation – distance, cost and availability
    • Transportations problems were more prevalent among Canada’s three eastern-most provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia
  •  Market conditions were the next largest source of interprovincial export obstacles, notably concerns about profitability
Canada GDP by industry, December and Annual 2024

The following statistics were released from the Economics and Statistics Division on February 28, 2025. For full details from this dataset, click here.

Month-over-month (December 2024 vs November 2024)

  • Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Canada grew 0.2% in December following a decline of 0.2% in November 2024
  • Real GDP in Canada’s goods producing industries grew 0.3% from November to December 2024
  • Real GDP in Canada’s services-producing industries was up 0.2% from November to December 2024

  • In December 2024, 11 industries reported higher real GDP compared to the previous month
  • Among broad industries, monthly GDP declines were fastest for management of companies, manufacturing and wholesale trade
  • The largest gains were reported for utilities and retail trade

Annual (2024 vs 2023)

  • The Canadian economy was 1.6% larger in 2024 when compared to 2023
  • Real GDP from goods producing industries grew 0.1% as growth in resource industries offset declines in construction, utilities and manufacturing