Nova Scotia averages 32.8 applicants per job across 3,474 open positions from 671 employers.
315+ openings across healthcare roles with just 26-31 applicants per job
Better odds — still need a great resume
Healthcare roles dominate Nova Scotia's least competitive job categories. Nurse positions have just 26 applicants per opening across 118 available jobs—3.7× easier to land than Product Designer roles and 21% below Nova Scotia's average competition of 32.8 applicants.
Nurse leads with 118 openings at 26 applicants per job | Product Designer is hardest to land at 96 applicants | Nurse easiest at 26
Our analysis of 3,474 LinkedIn job postings reveals significant variation in competition across Nova Scotia's 4 major job categories. Nurse offers the most opportunity with 118 open positions, but faces 26 applicants per role. Meanwhile, Product Designer is the hardest role to land in Nova Scotia with 96 applicants competing for just 56 openings.
Of all 4 job titles analyzed, 0 roles are highly competitive (70+ applicants) accounting for 0 jobs, while 4 roles have below-average competition (under 40 applicants) with 315 combined openings. The competition gap in Nova Scotia is stark: Product Designer averages 96 applicants while Nurse sees just 26—a 3.7× difference.
Walmart Canada leads with 152 jobs (4.4% of market) | RBC hardest at 46 applicants | Walmart Canada easiest at 25
Walmart Canada dominates Nova Scotia's job market with 152 open positions—4.4% of all jobs in the metro area—at 25 applicants per role. Shannex Incorporated follows with 119 positions at 29 applicants each. The top 10 employers alone account for 840 jobs—24% of Nova Scotia's market.
Competition varies dramatically by employer. RBC is the hardest place to get hired in Nova Scotia with 46 applicants per job, while Walmart Canada offers better odds at just 25 applicants. Of 12 major employers analyzed, 0 have high competition (70+ applicants) and 10 have below-average competition (under 40 applicants).
Browse 15 industries hiring across the Nova Scotia metro area
Data compiled by ResumeTarget.com from 3,474 LinkedIn job postings in the Nova Scotia metro area. Updated Dec 2, 2025.
Walmart Canada, Sobeys, and 8 other employers with 563 open positions
The Retail sector in Nova Scotia currently has 563 open positions across 10 employers in Bridgewater, Halifax, Dartmouth, and more. With an average of 27 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
Shannex Incorporated, Nova Scotia Health Authority, and 8 other employers with 484 open positions
The Healthcare sector in Nova Scotia currently has 484 open positions across 10 employers in Halifax, Oxford, New Glasgow, and more. With an average of 29 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
RBC, KPMG Canada, and 8 other employers with 430 open positions
The Banking & Finance sector in Nova Scotia currently has 430 open positions across 10 employers in Halifax. With an average of 33 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
IMP Aerospace & Defence, Ultra Electronics Group, and 8 other employers with 324 open positions
The Manufacturing sector in Nova Scotia currently has 324 open positions across 10 employers in Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, and more. With an average of 36 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
CGI, Kainos, and 8 other employers with 285 open positions
The Technology sector in Nova Scotia currently has 285 open positions across 10 employers in Halifax, Kings, Cape Dauphin, and more. With an average of 46 applicants per job, this industry is moderately competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
EY, UPS, and 6 other employers with 224 open positions
The Consulting sector in Nova Scotia currently has 224 open positions across 8 employers in Halifax, Dartmouth. With an average of 29 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
Amrize, Defence Construction Canada, and 2 other employers with 127 open positions
The Construction sector in Nova Scotia currently has 127 open positions across 4 employers in Pleasant Valley, Greenwood, Bedford, and more. With an average of 37 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
Lifemark Health Group, VON Canada, and 1 other employers with 125 open positions
The Wellness sector in Nova Scotia currently has 125 open positions across 3 employers in Halifax. With an average of 27 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
FedEx Canada, Northumberland Ferries Limited, and 2 other employers with 97 open positions
The Transportation & Logistics sector in Nova Scotia currently has 97 open positions across 4 employers in Truro, Pictou, Enfield, and more. With an average of 29 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
Aramark Canada, PepsiCo, and 3 other employers with 88 open positions
The Hospitality sector in Nova Scotia currently has 88 open positions across 5 employers in Halifax, New Minas, Dartmouth, and more. With an average of 34 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
Dalhousie University and 1 other employers hiring now
The Education sector in Nova Scotia currently has 70 open positions across 2 employers in Halifax. With an average of 38 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
Government of Nova Scotia and 0 other employers hiring now
The Government sector in Nova Scotia currently has 69 open positions across 1 employers in Halifax. With an average of 36 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
BrokerLink, Manulife, and 1 other employers with 57 open positions
The Insurance sector in Nova Scotia currently has 57 open positions across 3 employers in Halifax. With an average of 34 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
GardaWorld and 1 other employers hiring now
The Security Services sector in Nova Scotia currently has 54 open positions across 2 employers in Halifax. With an average of 26 applicants per job, this industry is less competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
Nova Scotia Power, Emera, and 1 other employers with 53 open positions
The Energy sector in Nova Scotia currently has 53 open positions across 3 employers in Halifax, Amherst. With an average of 42 applicants per job, this industry is moderately competitive compared to Nova Scotia's overall market average of 32.8.
Management and Manufacturing leads with 629 jobs (18% of market) at 30 applicants | Health Care Provider easiest to break into at 27 applicants
Management and Manufacturing dominates Nova Scotia's job market with 629 open positions—18% of all jobs—at 30 applicants per role. Health Care Provider follows with 457 positions at 27 applicants each. The top 3 functions account for 1,502 jobs—43% of Nova Scotia's entire job market.
Competition varies significantly by function. Information Technology is the most competitive category in Nova Scotia with 40 applicants per job, while Health Care Provider offers the best odds at just 27 applicants—a 13-applicant difference. Of 7 functions analyzed, 0 are highly competitive (70+ applicants) and 7 have below-average competition (under 40 applicants).
Nova Scotia averages 32.8 applicants per job across 3,474 open positions. Product Designer is hardest at 96 applicants; Nurse is easiest at 26.
Product Designer (96 applicants per job). These roles see 3.7× more competition than healthcare positions.
Nurse (26 applicants per job, 118 openings), Assistant Manager (26), and Physical Therapist (25).
Walmart Canada leads with 152 jobs, followed by Shannex Incorporated (119) and Nova Scotia Health Authority (102). 671 companies are actively hiring.
3,474 open positions across 671 employers. Data from LinkedIn, updated Dec 2, 2025.
Retail (563 jobs), Healthcare (484), and Banking & Finance (430).
ResumeTarget.com compiled and analyzed 3,474 full-time job postings from LinkedIn across the Nova Scotia-metro area to calculate competition levels by job title, industry, employer, and job function.
Competition is measured by the average number of applicants per job posting. Roles with 70+ applicants are classified as highly competitive, 40-69 as moderately competitive, and under 40 as less competitive.
With 32.8 applicants per job, you need a resume that immediately proves you're the top candidate. Our writers conduct 1-on-1 interviews to uncover your unique achievements and create ATS-optimized resumes that get noticed.
