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May 27, 2021EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, MARCH 2021 PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
With March reference month results, year-over-year (Mar 2021 vs Mar 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-Mar 21 vs Jan-Mar 20) are beginning to show the rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nova Scotia had 417,241 payroll employees in March 2021, up 1.2% (+4,896) compared to February 2021, and up 2.3% (+9,472) compared to March 2020. 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. 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 in November 2020. Nova Scotia's payroll employment returned to a path of recovery starting in January 2021.
Canada had 16.1 million employees, an increase of 1.5% (+245,790) compared to last month and up 0.3% (+42,243) compared to a year ago.
Compared to February 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment was down 1.5% in March 2021. Nationally, payroll employment was down 5.3% in March 2021, with all provinces reporting decreases except Prince Edward Island (+3.6%) and New Brunswick (+0.3%). The largest payroll employment decline was observed in Alberta (-6.8%) and Ontario (-6.6%).
Compared to Q4 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment was up 1.1% in March 2021. Nationally, payroll employment was unchanged in March 2021, with seven provinces reporting increases. The largest payroll employment increases were observed in Prince Edward Island (+5.2%) and Nova Scotia (+1.1%). Payroll employment declines were observed in Quebec (-0.3%), Alberta (-0.4%), and Ontario (-0.4%).
In Jan-Mar 2021, Nova Scotia's payroll employment declined 1.2% over Jan-Mar 2020. Nationally, payroll employment declined 4.7% in Jan-Mar 2021, with eight provinces reporting decreases. The largest payroll employment decline was observed in Alberta (-6.9%) and Ontario (-6.1%). Only Prince Edward Island (+2.9%) and New Brunswick (+1.2%) reported higher payroll employment.
In January-March 2021, payroll employment was up 0.4% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors compared to January-March 2020. Goods sector payroll employment was up for manufacturing (+0.8%), construction (+0.4%) and down for forestry/logging (-1.2%) sectors compared to January-March 2020.
Service sector employment was down 1.4% in January-March 2021 compared to January-March 2020. Service sector payroll employment decreased the most in percentage terms in accommodation and food services (-14.8%), real estate/rental & leasing (-10.9%), and arts/entertainment/recreation (-10.3%). Payroll employment increased the most in management of companies (+22.2%) and professional/scientific/technical services (+3.6%).
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 avaerage weekly earnings may similarly reflect re-employment in lower wage industries.
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings (including overtime, seasonally adjusted) decreased 1.4% (-$13.72) from February 2021 to $951.01 in March 2021. Average weekly wages were up 2.2% compared with March 2020. Canadians' average weekly wages decreased 0.8% month to month ($1,125.27 in March 2021) and were 7.4% higher than they were a year ago.
Across the country, there were monthly decreases in seven provinces, with the largest decreases in Alberta (-2.4%) and Manitoba (-1.7%). The increases were reported in Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.2%), Saskatchewan (+0.9%), and New Brunswick (+0.4%).
Compared to a year ago, average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+9.9%), British Columbia (+8.0%) and Manitoba (+7.6%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.2%).
Compared to February 2020, average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+10.0%), British Columbia (+8.5%) and Quebec (+7.8%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Nova Scotia (+2.3%).
Compared to Q4 2020, average wages were higher in eight provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+2.7%) and Alberta (+2.7%). Average weekly earnings declined in Nova Scotia (-1.1%) and Prince Edward Island (-1.0%).
Compared to January-March 2020, Nova Scotia's average wages were up 4.2% in January-March 2021. Nationally, average wages were up 8.0% in January-March 2021 over January-March 2020. Average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+10.5%) and British Columbia (+8.5%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.6%).
In January-March 2021, average weekly earnings were up 2.8% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors over January-March 2020. Goods sector wages were up for construction and manufacturing sectors. Service sector average earnings were up 4.3% in January-March 2021. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in transportation/warehousing (+14.5%) and finance and insurance (+14.0%). Service sector earnings decreased the most in health care and social assistance (-3.5%).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-March 2021 vs January-March 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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