HR for Nova Scotia

HR software built for Nova Scotia teams

Nova Scotia employment standards, statutory holiday tracking, and provincial leave rules — handled automatically.

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Minimum wage

$16.75 /hr

Standard work week

48 hours

Statutory holidays 2026

Employment standards at a glance

Overtime: After 48 hours/week at 1.5×
Minimum vacation: 2 weeks after 1 year; 3 weeks after 8 years
Governing body: Nova Scotia Labour Standards Division →

What Nova Scotia employers should know

Nova Scotia uses the Labour Standards Code for most private-sector employees.
Nova Scotia's minimum wage is $16.75/hr as of April 1, 2026 and increases to $17.00/hr on October 1, 2026.
Overtime threshold is higher (48 hours) than most other provinces — verify classification rules.

2026 statutory holidays

New Year's DayJan 1

Nova Scotia Heritage DayFeb 16

Good FridayApr 3

Canada DayJul 1

Labour DaySep 7

Christmas DayDec 25

Observed dates may shift when a holiday falls on a weekend. Confirm with Nova Scotia Labour Standards Division for official dates.

HR guides by industry for Nova Scotia

Industry-specific guides for Nova Scotia employers. Pick yours below for a deeper dive into the compliance, payroll, and HR particulars for your sector.

Professional Services

HR for law, accounting, and consulting firms in NS

Retail

HR for retail businesses in NS

Hospitality

HR for restaurants, hotels, and tourism businesses in NS

Healthcare

HR for clinics, dental offices, and medical practices in NS

Construction

HR for construction companies in NS

How WalnutsHR handles Nova Scotia HR

We handle Nova Scotia statutory holidays, employment-standards-aware vacation accrual, and Canadian-region primary storage by default. Provider-chain legal-process risk may still remain. 30-day free trial.

Start free trial for Nova Scotia