PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC PROFILE
New Brunswick Economic Overview
$36.6b
GROSS PROVINCE PRODUCT
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
2.6%
9
871,598
POPULATION
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
2.2%
6
41,013
BUSINESSES
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
1.5%
10
Overview of the New Brunswick Economy
In 2025, the province of New Brunswick has a population of 871,598, having grown an annualized 2.2% over the five years to 2025, which ranks it 6th out of 13 provinces and territories by growth rate. New Brunswick's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025 reached $36.6b, with growth of 2.6% over the 5 years to 2025. Businesses in New Brunswick employed a total of 287,993 people in 2025, with average annual employment growth over the past five years of 3.1%. The top three sectors by total employment are Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, Public Administration in Canada, Healthcare and Social Assistance, while the unemployment rate across the province in 2025 was 7.5%.
What is New Brunswick's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
In 2025, New Brunswick's GDP reached $36.6b, representing an increase of 2.6% from 2024. New Brunswick's GDP has grown at an annualized rate of 1.9% over the five years to 2025. Moreover, New Brunswick's trailing five-year GDP growth ranks it 9th out of 13 provinces and territories.
Provincial GDP is a measurement of a province's output, or the sum of value added from all industries in the province. It is a common indicator used to track the health of a provincial economy.
PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC PROFILE
New Brunswick Industry Trends
What are New Brunswick's Largest Industries by Revenue?
The largest industries by revenue in New Brunswick are Commercial Banking, Gasoline & Petroleum Wholesaling and Gasoline & Petroleum Bulk Stations, which generated $11.3b, $8.3b and $6.0b in 2025.
PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC PROFILE
Top Companies in New Brunswick
Top 10 Companies in New Brunswick by Employment
The largest companies by employment in New Brunswick are Government of New Brunswick, Horizon Health Network Llc and Vitalité Health Network, which employed 48,562, 14,000 and 7,600 people in 2025.
PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC PROFILE
New Brunswick Sector Statistics
In New Brunswick, certain sectors drive a higher share of provincial GDP and employ more workers than others. However, simply looking at raw numbers doesn't always tell the whole story. Factoring in the current year growth percentage, in addition to the annualized growth percentage over the past five years, will give you a deeper understanding of the economic situation.
What is New Brunswick's GDP by Sector?
The Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, Public Administration in Canada and Healthcare and Social Assistance sectors contributed the most to New Brunswick's GDP in 2025, representing a combined 34.5% of provincial GDP.
GDP trends by sector are an important indicator of which sectors are contributing the most value-add to the provincial economy, in addition to how the provincial economy is evolving over time.
What is New Brunswick's Employment by Sector?
The Retail Trade, Manufacturing and Healthcare and Social Assistance sectors contributed the most to employment in New Brunswick in 2025, representing a combined 44.6% of provincial employment.
Employment trends by sector are an important indicator of which sectors are growing or contracting most rapidly relative to the provincial economy as a whole.
PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC PROFILE
New Brunswick Employment Trends
288.0k
EMPLOYMENT
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
0.9%
1
7.5%
UNEMPLOYMENT
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
-6.3%
6
What Employment Trends are Impacting New Brunswick's Economy?
The province of New Brunswick employs 287,993 people in 2025, which ranks it 8th out of 13 provinces and territories. Employment in New Brunswick has grown at an annualized rate of 0.9% over the five years to 2025, underperforming the national average of 1.8%. Major sectors by employment in New Brunswick include Retail Trade, Manufacturing and Healthcare and Social Assistance, which employed 56,092, 36,248 and 35,971 people in 2025, respectively. New Brunswick's unemployment rate is 7.5% in 2025, which ranks it 11th out of 13 provinces and territories. New Brunswick's unemployment rate has trended downwards at a rate of -6.3% over the five years to 2025, overperforming the Canada economy as a whole. Employment trends indicate the degree of tightness or slack in labor markets, in addition to the overall strength of an economy. Faster employment growth typically indicates a strong and growing economy, while lower unemployment tends to imply tightness in labor markets. You can track unemployment trends in New Brunswick, and compare them to the Canadian economy.
$86.8k
PER CAPITA DISPOSABLE INCOME
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
3.4
6
What is New Brunswick's Per Capita Disposable Income?
Per capita disposable income, also known as disposable personal income (DPI), is the amount of money that the average person in an economy has available for spending and saving after accounting for income taxes. New Brunswick's DPI in 2025 was $86.8k, compared to the Canadian average of $107.8k, which places it 6th out of 13 provinces and territories.
Disposable income is regarded as a key economic indicator as trends in disposable income are indicative of the level of aggregate demand, the state of labor markets and the financial strength of households.
PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC PROFILE
New Brunswick Construction & Building Trends
$105.9m
NONRESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
12.2%
11
$316.0m
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
16.3%
12
6,609
BUILDING PERMITS
Growth Rate 2020-25
Province
Growth Rank
7.7%
8
What can construction trends tell you about a state’s economy?
In New Brunswick, non-residential construction was $105.9m in 2025, which ranks it 11th out of 13 provinces and territories. Residential construction was $316.0m in 2025, which places New Brunswick 12th out of 13 provinces and territories. The number of building permits issued in New Brunswick in 2025 was 6,609, representing a 7.7% annualized growth rate between 2020 and 2025.
Trends in the construction sector are important because it creates jobs, income and tax revenue for a state. In addition, construction sector activity impacts other sectors in its supply chain, including manufacturing, wholesaling, warehousing, transportation, and real estate, rental and leasing services.Therefore, construction trends are important indicators of the health of an economy.
PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC PROFILE
New Brunswick Population Statistics
Which Counties in New Brunswick have the Largest Populations?
The counties with the highest populations in New Brunswick are Moncton, Saint John and Saint John, Fredericton, And Moncton, which had populations of 155,094, 120,969 and 0 people in 2025.
PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC PROFILE
New Brunswick Demographics
Education Level New Brunswick
New Brunswick Province Industry Reports
IBISWorld Province Industry Reports help you quickly understand how an industry performs at the province level compared with the national level by providing accurate and unbiased industry information with a local focus. Use this collection to:
- Discover key local industry trends
- Identify threats and opportunities at the subnational level
- Inform your business strategies and planning
See our list of 419 New Brunswick Industry Reports.
