The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
September 28, 2021EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, JULY 2021 PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
With July reference month results, year-over-year (July 2021 vs July 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-Jul 21 vs Jan-Jul 20) shows the rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nova Scotia had 416,088 payroll employees in July 2021, up 1.6% (+6,650) compared to June 2021, and up 8.6% (+33,023) compared to July 2020. Nova Scotia's payroll employment had been trending upwards since 2017 but declined sharply between February and May 2020 due to restrictions and closures resulting from COVID-19. There was a partial rebound from June to November due to eased restrictions. In December 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment edged down once again on renewed COVID-19 restrictions. Nova Scotia's payroll employment returned to a path of recovery starting in January 2021. Nova Scotia imposed restrictions again at the end of April. These restrictions were eased part-way through June and July. The gains in July reflect the easing of these restrictions.
Canada had 16.6 million employees, an increase of 2.0% (+324,794) compared to last month and up 9.8% (+1,481,884) compared to a year ago.
Compared to February 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment was down 1.8% in July 2021. Nationally, payroll employment was down 2.5% in July 2021, with all provinces reporting decreases except Prince Edward Island (+4.1%) and New Brunswick (+2.3%). The largest payroll employment declines were observed in Ontario (-3.8%) and Alberta (-3.2%).
In Jan-Jul 2021, Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased 6.3% over Jan-Jul 2020. Nationally, payroll employment rose 5.1% in Jan-Jul 2021, with all provinces reporting increases. The largest payroll employment increases were observed in Prince Edward Island (+9.6%) and New Brunswick (+8.1%). The slowest payroll employment growth was observed in Alberta (+3.4%).
In January-July 2021, payroll employment was up 7.6% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors compared to January-July 2020. Goods sector payroll employment was up in all sub-sectors with forestry/logging (+9.8%) recording the largest gain.
Service sector employment was up 6.1% in January-July 2021 compared to January-July 2020. Service sector payroll employment increased the most in percentage terms in management of companies and arts, entertainment and recreation. Payroll employment decreased in real estate/rental & leasing.
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
Changes in average weekly earnings reflect wage growth as well as changes in the composition of employment by industry/occupation/experience, and average hours worked per week. During COVID-19, large employment losses have been reported in industries with relatively low average weekly earnings. This means that average weekly earnings were increasing because those remaining employed are working in industries with higher average weekly earnings. Declining average weekly earnings may similarly reflect re-employment in lower wage industries.
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings (including overtime, seasonally adjusted) decreased 0.7% (-$7.15) from June 2021 to $984.56 in July 2021. Average weekly wages were up 3.2% compared to July 2020. Canadians' average weekly wages increased 1.0% month to month ($1,133.18 in July) and were 3.2% above wages a year ago.
Across the country, there were monthly increases in five provinces, with the largest increases in British Columbia (+2.4%). The largest decline was in New Brunswick (-1.6%).
Compared to a year ago, average wages were higher in eight provinces with British Columbia (+4.4%) recording the largest gain. The year-over-year declines were in Newfoundland and Labrador (-1.5%) and New Brunswick (-0.2%).
Compared to February 2020, average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in British Columbia (+11.5%) and Ontario (+9.7%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in New Brunswick (+3.5%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (+4.1%).
Compared to January-July 2020, Nova Scotia's average wages were up 1.3% in January-July 2021. Nationally, average wages were up 3.7% in the first seven months of the year. Average wages were higher in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador (-1.1%), with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+5.0%) and British Columbia (+4.3%).
In January-July 2021, average weekly earnings were up 2.6% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors over January-July 2020. Goods sector wages were up for construction and manufacturing sectors. Service sector average earnings were up 0.9% in January-July 2021. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in finance and insurance (+9.1%), and administration and support services (+8.4%). Service sector earnings decreased the most in information and culture (-6.1%).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-July 2021 vs January-July 2020)
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0222-01 Employment, average hourly and weekly earnings (including overtime), and average weekly hours for the industrial aggregate excluding unclassified businesses, monthly, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0223-01 Employment and average weekly earnings (including overtime) for all employees by province and territory, monthly, seasonally adjusted
<--- Return to Archive
