Average weekly earnings for industry increase in January 2013

Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees across Canada outpaced the national average with manufacturing increasing by two per cent from January 2012, according to today’s payroll employment, earnings and hours report from Statistics Canada.

Earnings were up, overall, 0.1 per cent in January 2013 from the month prior, sitting at $908. On a year-over-year basis, earnings grew 2.7 per cent, reflecting wage growth, changes in composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience and average hours worked per week.

In January, non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 33 hours per week; up from 32.9 hours in January 2012.

With the year-over-year growth outpacing the national average in four of the largest industrial sectors, manufacturing made a two per cent jump from the previous year.

The construction sector led the pack, with an increase of 6.1 per cent to $1,172 as a result of growth in the construction of building and heavy and civil engineering construction.

Following that was public administration, with a boost of 5.5 per cent to $1,189, most notably due to growth in local, municipal and regional administration of services.

In the professional, scientific and technical services sector, average weekly earnings rose 3.1 per cent in January 2013 to $1,256. Notable increases were a result of prominent gains in computer systems design, related services and legal services.

Finally, while one of the largest industrial sectors, wholesale and retail trade had the lowest year-over-year growth at 0.3 per cent.

The growth in earnings overall was found to be above the national average in five provinces, most prominently in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec. Earnings in Newfoundland increased by 4.4 per cent to $947 due mainly to the construction and healthcare fields. In Quebec, earnings rose 4.3 per cent to $835 in the year leading up to January.

Alberta continues to have the highest average weekly earnings in the country at $1,090 – a rise of 3.6 per cent with a year ago.