B.C. and Alberta lead in payroll jobs’ earning growth

Ottawa – Among accommodation and food services employees, average weekly earnings grew 3.5 per cent to $388, mainly the result of gains in full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places, according to a report from Statistics Canada.

Earnings growth in accommodation and food services was spread across most provinces, led by British Columbia and Alberta, Statistics Canada said in a news release. Average earnings in the sector have trended upwards since February 2017.

Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees in all sectors were $974 in June, little changed from the previous month, and up 1.8 per cent compared with 12 months earlier.

In general, changes in weekly earnings reflect a number of factors, including wage growth; changes in the composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience; and average hours worked per week.

Payroll employees worked an average of 32.7 hours per week in June, unchanged compared with May, and down from 33.0 hours in June 2016.

The greatest rise was in Quebec. Average weekly earnings in that province rose 3.4 per cent to $893. From a relatively low point in June 2016, earnings in the province have trended upward until January 2017. The year-over-year growth was spread across many sectors, and the largest contributors were health care and social assistance, as well as professional, scientific and technical services.

In Nova Scotia, earnings grew 2.4 per cent to $857, driven by increases in educational services, and health care and social assistance. Earnings in the province have been on a slight upward trend in the second half of 2016.

Average earnings in Newfoundland and Labrador increased 2.1 per cent to $1,046 per week. Construction contributed the most to the increase. At the same time, earnings in the province declined notably in manufacturing.

In British Columbia, average weekly earnings were up 1.8 per cent to $945, led by wholesale trade, educational services and manufacturing. Earnings in the province have been on a long-term upward trend.

Average weekly earnings in Alberta rose 1.3 per cent to $1,132, with notable gains in educational services; accommodation and food services; and administrative and support services. Earnings in the province have been relatively stable since the summer of 2016.

In Saskatchewan, average weekly earnings increased 1.2 per cent to $1,002. Transportation and warehousing; health care and social assistance; public administration, and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction contributed the most to the rise.

Earnings in Ontario were up 1.1 per cent to an average of $990 per week, boosted by gains in professional, scientific and technical services and public administration. Earnings in the province have been relatively stable since the start of 2017.

The number of non-farm payroll jobs rose by 79,700 (up 0.5 per cent) from May. The number of payroll employees increased the most in public administration, mainly in local, municipal and regional public administration. Payroll employment also rose notably in professional, scientific and technical services; retail trade; accommodation and food services; and health care and social assistance. At the same time, the number of payroll jobs declined notably in information and cultural industries.

Since 2016, the number of payroll jobs also increased notably in health care and social assistance (up 37,100, or 2.0 per dent), accommodation and food services (up 36,000, or 2.8 per cent), construction (up 29,90, or 3.1 per cent), and manufacturing (up 24,300, or 1.6 per cent).