Nearly a third of paid workers in N.S. in ‘precarious’ jobs: CCPA

CITYnews halifax / By Steve Gow

As Nova Scotia prepares to mark International Workers’ Day on Friday, a new report is showing how precarious the job market is across the province.

Released on Wednesday, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ report shows more than 30 per cent of the province’s approximate 131,000 paid employees are in situations that include low wages, limited protection and job instability.

Around 43 percent show at least two of those three signs of precarity.

Based on figures from Statistics Canada’s 2024 Labour Force Survey, and a 2025 Angus Reid survey of workers across Nova Scotia, the report found young workers, part-time employees, and those in temporary roles were most at risk with more than half of workers aged 20 to 24 in precarious jobs.

The report also found unionized workers were in better position and that a sharp divide exists between public and private sector jobs, reflecting differences in union coverage and job protections.

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“This first-of-its-kind survey of workers in Nova Scotia helps explain the growing number of labour disruptions by low-wage, insecure workers, including in long-term care, universities and housing support,” says Christine Saulnier, director of CCPA in a release.

The report recommends that wages be raised to establish “a clear path toward a living wage” and strengthen rules on scheduling, on-call work, and last-minute shift changes.

As well, the CCPA says, among other changes, paid sick leave, vacation and basic benefits should be expanded in Nova Scotia.

The report comes out ahead of Friday’s May Day and amid a long-term care workers’ strike in Nova Scotia that has been ongoing since April 13.