Rubie

Hello All

I've just been browsing jobs in Nova Scotia as we hope to be out there some time next year, but many jobs that look similar to mine or are what I would consider to be general administration jobs seem to want candidates with a degree.

Is this really the situation in Nova Scotia? Is it possible to get a job without a degree or am I looking at going back to school?

Rubie

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bodgerx

I seem to remember dbd33 having his say about this, in that it seems to be an area with a highe degree of degree holders. I'm sure there are plenty of people there earning a decent crust without one.

cdntiger

Although I don't have statistics to back it up, having grown up AND gone to university in NS, my perception is there is a relatively large number of degree-granting instutions there in relation to the population size. So yes, lots of degree-holders. Although many of them, like me, leave for greener pastures. I'd say it's a net exporter of educated people.

That's not to say that there aren't jobs that don't require degrees, they just might not be on the job sites. Also, it's an area that is always slightly sluggish, economically speaking....so it's a bit of a buyer's market.

tracys

Hope you don't mind my asking but why do people leave for "greener pastures"? What is it that you couldn't find in NS that Alberta has offered you.

As we found it so lovely, would be interested to know why so many "Go West". Is it mainly for better job prospects?

Thanks in advance for your insights,

Tracy

Simon Legree

Yes, mainly for the job prospects. We left NS in 1971 when I got sent to Toronto. We returned, as retirees, in 2001 because the OH is from NS.

tracys

Thanks Simon, thought that was the case. Obviously there are jobs in NS so presumably the pay is better in other provinces.

Simon Legree

Correct. However, housing costs are higher in Ontario, Alberta and BC so it sort of evens out somewhat.

cdntiger

Yes....as Simon says, it's mostly because of job prospects. Most people who leave always have in their minds that they'll make their way back sometime. In my case I thought I would only be away for about 5 years. Turned out to be more like 20...and counting.

But it is such a lovely place.

triumphguy

No - just to get out. Many teachers in Calgary sport the X ring of SFXU.

cdntiger

In my case it wasn't a pay issue. It was simply that there weren't any jobs in my chosen profession.

tracys

Thanks for your reply cdntiger, glad you didn't leave because you didn't like it! What profession are you in?

My OH is chief technology officer for a medium sized printing co. in London.

He is just coming to the end of his MBA and we are hoping this will give him a bit of an edge over the competition, especially if they all have degrees! It will also give us the points we need to re-apply.

Found out our current application is probably short 1 point. It's still on the pile at CIC, pre Feb 08. so decided to leave it until we can send in a new one on our lawyers advice.

cdntiger

No, certainly didn't leave for that reason. I usually get back to visit every 2 years or so just to recharge those Maritime batteries.

I studied engineer in school and specialized in the field of industrial engineering...also known as manufacturing engineering. There is some call for that discipline there, but not a huge amount.

I hope things work out for you. It's a lovely place to live. Halifax is a great little city.

dbd33

There's a bubble in Halifax, lots of universities and so lots of people with degrees. An acquaintance of mine moved to Toronto as he couldn't be made a store manager for a retail chain in Halifax due to only having an undergrad degree. At one point my daughter worked in a healthfood store in Halifax and was the only person working there without a Masters. I don't suppose it matters in rural NS.

cdntiger

No. All you need there to make ends meet is a Bobcat and a flatbed trailer....and possibly the ability to steer around porcupines, if you're so inclined.

Lord Vader

Nova Scotia's population is less than 1 million people. Both Calgary and Edmonton have more people than NS for example. Per capita NS easily has the most universities in Canada, then you have colleges, community colleges, other post secondary schools, etc.http://www3.sympatico.ca/goweezer/canada/lnknsed.htm


About half the university students are from outside of the province. Most of them do not stay in NS after they finish school. As a result of NS's small population, some local educated folks will leave to find work in their fields where there isn't much demand in NS. But their are also many educated folks that come here to work as well.

NS also has many small communities that dot the coastline that were (are) fishing villages and towns that have lost their main industry after the fishery collapsed. As a result, many blue collar and uneducated folks are forced to work in Alberta and other places because the industry in their home town is no more and the province is too small to find other work in their trades or fields easily. Alberta oil is big money, many oil, construction and trade companies pay a premium and will fly people back and forth once a month or two or whatever.

That being said, if you want to work, there is work. It may not be the job you want at first but if someone wants a job they will get one. Take what you can find and go from there. The NS unemployment rate is less than Ontario's for example, Halifax's unemployment rate is 6% while TO is 10%, Calgary 6.9%, Edmonton 7%, Vancouver 7% all as of July. Of course, the country and world is in the middle of an economic downtown.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/cp-unemployment/