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:
November 28, 2019EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, SEPTEMBER 2019 
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings (including overtime, seasonally adjusted) increased 0.5 per cent ($4.43) from August to $911.29 in September 2019. Average weekly wages were up 4.4 per cent compared with September 2018. Canadians' average weekly wages increased 0.9 per cent month to month ($1,042.09 in September) and were 4.0 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, there were monthly increases in every province except Newfoundland and Labrador where they were virtually unchanged. Compared to the previous month, Manitoba (+2.1 per cent) and Saskatchewan (+1.6 per cent) had the largest increases in September.
Compared to a year ago, average wages are higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Quebec (+4.9 per cent), Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island (+4.3 per cent)
Comparing the first nine months of 2019 with the 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 2.5 per cent year-to-date.
In January-September 2019, average weekly earnings are up 4.6 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 are suppressed. Service sector earnings were up 3.5 per cent in the first nine months of 2019. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in real estate (+8.3 per cent), professional, scientific and technical services (+6.8 per cent), finance and insurance (+6.3 per cent), and administration and support services (+6.2 per cent). There were declines in average weekly earnings in arts, entertainment and recreation (-0.4 per cent).
EMPLOYMENT
Nova Scotia had 424,150 payroll employees in September, up 0.2 per cent compared to last month, and up 2.0 per cent compared to last September. Canada had 17.0 million employees, down 0.2 per cent from last month and up 1.8 per cent compared to a year ago.
Nova Scotia's payroll employment has been trending upwards since 2017.
Compared to the first nine months of 2018, Nova Scotia's payroll employment is up 2.3 per cent, year-to-date. Nationally, payroll employment is up 2.2 per cent in January-September 2019, with all provinces reporting increases during this period. The fastest payroll employment growth has been observed in Prince Edward Island (+3.6 per cent), followed by New Brunswick (+2.8 per cent) and Quebec and British Columbia (both +2.7 per cent).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-September 2019 vs January-September 2018)
Source: Statistics Canada
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
