After over 20 years of decline, Cape Breton’s population is growing again thanks to international students.

In total, Cape Breton’s population increased by 1,491 to 134,850 people in total.

The international student population at Cape Breton University grew by 3,500 last year. Meanwhile, the labour force grew by 3.4 per cent. The unemployment rate fell from 15.1 per cent to 13.3 per cent.

While the population growth has been a challenge for transportation services, it has generally had a positive economic impact. Thomas Storring of Nova Scotia's Finance Department noted the increased need for housing and other services also creates opportunities. The number of jobs and the workforce both grew in the area in 2019.

Source: ca.news.yahoo.com