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EI beneficiaries increase 1.5 per cent in August: StatsCan; Payroll earnings increased 0.4 per cent in August: StatsCan; Newfoundland and Labrador to increase minimum wage in 2014

EI beneficiaries increase 1.5 per cent in August: StatsCan

Ottawa — In August, 511,900 people received regular employment insurance (EI) benefits, up 1.5 per cent, or 7,800, from July. Compared with August 2012, the number of beneficiaries fell by 7.8 per cent.

The majority of provinces saw increases in the number of beneficiaries in August compared with July — most notably Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Quebec.

The number of regular EI beneficiaries in Alberta rose by 3.6 per cent in August, offsetting a decline that occurred in July. There were also offsetting changes in both Calgary and Edmonton.

In August, there were more beneficiaries in two major occupation groups: trades, transport and equipment operation, up 4.6 per cent, and natural and applied science occupations, up 2.2 per cent and the second increase in three months. By contrast, there was little change in the other occupation groups.

Payroll earnings increased 0.4 per cent in August: StatsCan

Ottawa — Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $918 in August, up 0.4 per cent from the previous month, Statistics Canada reports. On a year-over-year basis, weekly earnings increased 1.3 per cent.

The 1.3 per cent increase in weekly earnings during the 12 months to August reflected a number of factors, including wage growth, changes in the composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience, as well as average hours worked per week.

Non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 32.9 hours per week in August, down from 33 hours in July and also down from the August 2012 average of 33.1 hours.

Newfoundland and Labrador to increase minimum wage in 2014

St. John’s, Nfld. — The minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador will increase by 25 cents to $10.25 per hour on Oct. 1, 2014. This will be followed by another 25 cent increase on Oct. 1, 2015.

By Oct. 1, 2015, the minimum wage rate in the province will have increased by 75 per cent in just 10 years, according to the Labour Relations Agency.

The minimum overtime wage rate will continue to be fixed at 1.5 times the minimum wage, rounded to the nearest cent. The province expects to conduct a further review of the minimum wage in 2015.

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