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June 27, 2019EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, APRIL 2019
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings (including overtime, seasonally adjusted) increased by $4.88 per week (0.5 per cent) from March 2019 to $896.17 in April 2019. Average weekly wages were up 4.6 per cent compared with April of last year. Canadians' average weekly wages increased 0.7 per cent month to month ($1,022.53 in April) and were 2.9 per cent higher than they were a year ago.
Changes in average weekly earnings reflect wage growth, changes in the composition of employment by industry/occupation/experience, and average hours worked per week.
Across the country, monthly average weekly wages rose 0.7 per cent, with increases in 8 of 10 provinces. Compared to the previous month, Saskatchewan (1.4 per cent) had the largest increase in April, while Manitoba (-1.1 per cent) had the largest decrease.
Compared to a year ago, average wages are higher in all provinces except Alberta, with the largest increase in percentage terms reported in Nova Scotia (4.6 per cent). Alberta reported a year-over-year decrease of -0.6 per cent.
Comparing the first four months of 2019 with same period in 2018, average weekly earnings have increased 3.7 per cent in Nova Scotia, the fastest growth among the provinces. Nationally, average weekly earnings have increased 2.0 per cent year-to-date with Alberta reporting a 0.3 per cent decline from January-April 2018.
In Jan-Apr 2019 (compared to Jan-Apr 2018), average weekly earnings are up 4.2 per cent in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors. Goods sector wages were up for manufacturing and construction sectors; data for the other goods sectors is suppressed. Service sector earnings were up 3.7 per cent in the first four months of 2019. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in the information and cultural services category, followed by professional services and administration and support services. There have been declines in average weekly earnings in arts, entertainment and recreation, accommodation and food services, and other services (except public administration).
EMPLOYMENT
Nova Scotia had 422,576 payroll employees in April, up 0.4 per cent compared to last month, and up 2.9 per cent compared to last April. Canada had 16.9 million employees, up 0.1 per cent from last month and up 2.3 per cent compared to a year ago.
Nova Scotia's payroll employment has been trending upwards since 2017.
Year-to-date, Canada’s and Nova Scotia's payroll employment are both up 2.3 per cent. The fastest payroll employment growth has been observed in Prince Edward Island (4.2 per cent), followed by British Columbia (2.9 per cent) and New Brunswick (2.9 per cent).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-April 2019 vs January-April 2018)
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Employment, Payroll, and Hours. Table 14-10-0223-01, 14-10-0222-01
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