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March 30, 2021EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, JANUARY 2021 PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
Nova Scotia had 411,558 payroll employees in January 2021, an increase of 0.5% (+2,188) compared to December 2020, and down 3.2% (-13,626) compared to last January. Nova Scotia's payroll employment had been trending upwards since 2017 but declined sharply after February due to restrictions and closures resulting from COVID-19 and partially rebounded from June to November due to eased restrictions. In December 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment edged down on renewed COVID-19 restrictions in November 2020. Nova Scotia's payroll employment showed recovery in January 2021 and is at the highest level since February 2020.
Canada had 15.8 million employees, a decrease of 0.8% (-134,491) compared to last month and down 7.3% (-1,243,312) compared to a year ago.
Compared to February 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment is down 2.9% in January 2021. Nationally, payroll employment is down 7.0% in January 2021, with all provinces reporting decreases. The largest payroll employment decline has been observed in Alberta (-9.6%), Ontario (-8.0%), and Quebec (-6.8%). The smallest decline has been observed in New Brunswick (-0.1%).
In January 2021, Nova Scotia's payroll employment declined 3.2% over January 2020. Nationally, payroll employment declined 7.3% in January 2021, with all provinces reporting decreases. The largest payroll employment decline has been observed in Alberta (-10.4%) and Ontario (-8.2%). The smallest declines have been observed in the Maritimes: New Brunswick (-0.3%), Prince Edward Island (-2.0%) and Nova Scotia (-3.2%).
In January 2021, payroll employment was down 1.6% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors compared to January 2020. Goods sector payroll employment was down for manufacturing (-0.6%), construction (-3.0%) and forestry/logging (-2.9%) sectors compared to January 2020.
Service sector employment was down 3.4% in January 2021 compared to January 2020. Service sector payroll employment decreased the most in percentage terms in accommodation and food services (-21.4%), arts/entertainment/recreation (-17.4%), and real estate/rental & leasing (-12.5%). Payroll employment increased in finance and insurance (+0.9%), professional/scientific/technical services (+2.9%), management of companies (+27.0%) and education (+1.8%).
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.
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings (including overtime, seasonally adjusted) decreased 1.3% (-$12.65) from December 2020 to $992.38 in January 2021. Average weekly wages were up 6.5% compared with January 2020. Canadians' average weekly wages increased 1.8% month to month ($1,135.41 in January 2021) and were 8.3% higher than they were a year ago.
Across the country, there were monthly increases in eight provinces, with the largest increase in Alberta (+3.1%), Ontario (+2.7%), Quebec and Prince Edward Island (both at +2.6%). The decreases were reported in Nova Scotia (-1.3%) and Saskatchewan (-0.3%).
Compared to a year ago, average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+10.8%), British Columbia (+8.8%) and Quebec (+8.7%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.5%).
Compared to February 2020, Nova Scotia's average wages were up 6.8% in January 2021. Nationally, average wages were up 8.6% in January 2021 over February 2020. Average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+10.8%) and Quebec (+9.3%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+2.4%).
In January 2021, average weekly earnings were up 2.9% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors over January 2020. Goods sector wages were up for construction and manufacturing sectors. Service sector average earnings were up 7.1% in January 2021. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in finance and insurance (+18.1%) and transportation/warehousing (+14.8%). Service sector earnings decreased the most in information and culture (-15.1%).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January 2021 vs January 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
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