Nova Scotia shifts employment support services, impacting provincial jobs

The Nova Scotia government is restructuring employment support services for income assistance recipients. Starting next month, work-ready recipients will be referred to Nova Scotia Works, the province’s free employment support network, rather than receiving specialized programming through the Department of Opportunities and Social Development.

Officials stated the shift aims to reduce service duplication, increase efficiency, and eliminate the stigma of a “two-tiered system” by providing all work-ready residents with access to the same support centers. The move leverages the existing network of over 50 Nova Scotia Works locations compared to the 23 regional offices previously used for income assistance clients.

The restructuring will impact between 75 and 85 full-time provincial positions. To minimize involuntary layoffs, the government has issued a voluntary call for resignations to approximately 300 unionized staff, offering severance at a rate of four weeks for every year of service, capped at 52 weeks. Three non-unionized employees have already been laid off.