4.2 Regional Perspective
The Strait Region faces a number of economic and social challenges:
high unemployment, low education levels, out-migration, aging population,
business closures, health issues, declining infrastructure, and dependency
on government.
Table 4: Strait Region vs Province
| |
Nova Scotia |
Antigonish |
Guysborough |
Inverness |
Richmond |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Population |
942,691 |
19,580 |
9,825 |
19,935 |
10,225 |
| Median Age (years) |
38.8 |
37 |
43 |
40 |
42 |
| Education |
|
|
|
|
|
| % Less than High School |
22 |
34 |
59 |
42 |
49 |
% with Bachelor's Degree
or Higher |
13 |
17 |
4 |
9 |
6 |
| Average Income |
25,970 |
25,240 |
20,340 |
23,360 |
21,340 |
Traditionally, the economy of the Strait Region has been resource-based,
consisting of agriculture, mining, forestry and fisheries. This is no
longer the situation and current statistics show
that trade and service industries offer 77% of employment in the area16.
|