Payroll earnings increase from September to October: StatsCan

Average weekly earnings increased 1.4 per cent

Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees increased 1.4 per cent to $885.36 in October from the previous month, according to Statistics Canada.

On a year-over-year basis, average weekly earnings rose 2.7 per cent.

Increases in average weekly earnings reflect many factors including wage growth and changes in the composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience.

The average work week can also impact average weekly earnings, but it was unchanged from October 2010 at 33 hours.

Average weekly earnings by sector

The monthly increase in average weekly earnings was highest in finance and insurance, education, real estate and rental leasing, utilities, mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction and manufacturing.

Year-over-year growth in average weekly earnings exceeded the national average of 2.7 per cent in four of Canada's largest industrial sectors: administrative and support services, professional, scientific and technical services, health care and social assistance and education.

Average weekly earnings rose 6.8 per cent to $747.82 in administration and support services..

In the 12 months to October, average weekly earnings in professional, scientific and technical services were up 3.6 per cent to $1,236.53. Increases were particularly pronounced in management, scientific and technical consulting and in architectural, engineering and related services.

Average weekly earnings in health care and social assistance increased 3.4 per cent to $819.15. Growth in this sector was most notable in hospitals.

Growth in earnings also surpassed the national average in some smaller sectors. From October 2010 to October 2011, earnings increased in the two highest paying industries. In utilities, earnings increased 9.3 per cent to $1,691.32, while earnings for employees in mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction rose 4.7 per cent to $1,800.70.

Average weekly earnings up in every province

Average weekly earnings rose in every province in the 12 months to October.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, average weekly earnings were $901.83 in October, up 7.7 per cent from the same month a year earlier. Earnings in this province have grown at a higher rate than the national average since December 2010.

In Alberta, average weekly earnings increased 4.5 per cent over the 12 months to $1,049.31 in October and remained the highest level of earnings among the provinces.

The lowest year-over-year growth occurred in Nova Scotia, with an increase of 0.4 per cent, where the average weekly earnings were $770.25 in October.

 

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