This report is one of 12 regional studies providing detailed labour market information (LMI) for the fish and seafood processing industry in Atlantic Canada. It is part of a broader study by Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC), Employment and Social Development Canada, and partners, titled Securing Canada’s Fish and Seafood Workforce: Real Challenges, Practical Solutions and Fresh Perspectives. The study aims to identify human resource (HR) challenges and compile best practices to help employers address current and future labour needs. Twelve regions with significant fish and seafood processing activity were selected, including the Pictou Region in Nova Scotia. The report covers overviews of the Pictou Region and the fish and seafood sector in Nova Scotia, followed by analysis of the local labour force and findings on labour supply and demand. It also highlights HR challenges and potential solutions in the region.
The region’s population is expected to remain stable at 42,000 over the forecast period, with average annual growth of just 0.1%.
Aging demographics are expected to cause the region’s unemployment rate to fall from 9.5% in 2017 to just over 6.0% by 2030.
Regional labour market analysis suggests that after accounting for labour requirements in other sectors, regional labour supply is projected to meet both average and peak seafood processing employment demands over the next five years.
