Year-over-year earnings increase 3.2 per cent
Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $911 in November, up 0.5 per cent from the previous month, according to Statistics Canada. On a year-over-year basis, earnings increased 3.2 per cent.
The 3.2 per cent increase reflects a number of factors, including wage growth, changes in composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience, as well as average hours worked per week.
In November, non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 33.2 hours per week, up from 33.1 in October and 32.9 in November 2011.
Year-over-year growth in average weekly earnings outpaced the national average in five of the largest industrial sectors: construction; accommodation and food services; professional, scientific and technical services; public administration; and educational services.
Average weekly earnings in construction increased 6.6 per cent in the 12 months to November to $1,172, with gains spread across all industries within the sector.
In accommodation and food services, weekly earnings rose 4.6 per cent to $373, led by growth in full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places.
Weekly earnings in professional scientific and technical services increased 4.5 per cent to $1,274. The most notable growth occurred in architectural, engineering and related services; computer systems design and related services; as well as legal services.
Average weekly earnings in public administration increased 4.1 per cent in November to $1,167, with gains among all levels of government.
In educational services, weekly earnings rose 3.9 per cent to $989, with the largest growth among universities.
Provincial numbers
Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll increased in every province in the 12 months to November, with the highest growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, Statistics Canada said.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, average weekly earnings increased 5.4 per cent from 12 months earlier to $941, the highest year-over-year growth rate among the provinces. The growth in earnings was most notable in construction; manufacturing; and administrative and support services. Average weekly earnings in Newfoundland and Labrador were the second highest in the country after Alberta.
Average weekly earnings in Nova Scotia were $817 in November, up 4.6 per cent from November 2011. Despite a year-over-year growth rate above the national average since August, earnings in this province continue to be among the lowest in the country.
In Saskatchewan, average weekly earnings rose 3.7 per cent in the 12 months to November to $931. The main contributors to this increase were accommodation and food services; mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction as well as finance and insurance.
Earnings were still highest in Alberta at $1,086, a 3.4 per cent increase from November 2011.
Non-farm payroll employment by sector
Total non-farm payroll employment edged up 3,100 in November, following a decline of 14,800 the previous month, Statistics Canada reported.
In November, the number of payroll employees increased in administrative and support services; public administration; and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction. At the same time, there were small declines in real estate and rental and leasing as well as professional, scientific and technical services.
On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment rose by 228,400 (1.5 per cent).
