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June 24, 2021EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, APRIL 2021 PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
With April reference month results, year-over-year (Apr 2021 vs Apr 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-Apr 21 vs Jan-Apr 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 419,067 payroll employees in April 2021, up 0.4% (+1,722) compared to March 2021, and up 15.1% (+55,064) compared to April 2020. Nova Scotia's payroll employment had been trending upwards since 2017 but declined sharply after February 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 in November 2020. Nova Scotia's payroll employment returned to a path of recovery starting in January 2021.
Canada had 16.3 million employees, an increase of 1.0% (+166,939) compared to last month and up 14.5% (+2,069,289) compared to a year ago.
Compared to February 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment was down 1.1% in April 2021. Nationally, payroll employment was down 4.2% in April 2021, with all provinces reporting decreases except New Brunswick (+2.4%). The largest payroll employment decline was observed in Ontario (-5.6%) and Alberta (-5.5%).
In Jan-Apr 2021, Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased 2.5% over Jan-Apr 2020. Nationally, payroll employment declined 0.4% in Jan-Apr 2021, with three provinces reporting decreases. The largest payroll employment decline was observed in Alberta (-2.8%) and Ontario (-2.0%). The largest payroll employment increases were observed in New Brunswick (+5.3%) and Prince Edward Island (+4.6%).
In January-April 2021, payroll employment was up 4.2% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors compared to January-April 2020. Goods sector payroll employment was up for manufacturing (+4.0%), construction (+5.6%) and forestry/logging (+4.7%) sectors compared to January-April 2020.
Service sector employment was up 2.2% in January-April 2021 compared to January-April 2020. Service sector payroll employment increased the most in percentage terms in management of companies (+24.5%) and retail trade (+7.1%). Payroll employment decreased the most in real estate/rental & leasing (-8.0%), and information & culture (-4.9%).
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) increased 0.5% (+$4.36) from March 2021 to $953.10 in April 2021. Average weekly wages were down 4.4% compared with April 2020. Canadians' average weekly wages increased 0.7% month to month ($1,128.72 in April 2021) and were 1.1% higher than they were a year ago.
Across the country, there were monthly increases in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador (-1.2%), with the largest increases in Prince Edward Island and Alberta (both +1.3%).
Compared to a year ago, average wages were higher in three provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+3.4%) and Quebec (+1.6%). The largest decreases in average weekly earnings were observed in Maritime provinces.
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 (+8.4%) and Quebec (+8.1%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+2.2%) and Nova Scotia (+2.6%).
Compared to January-April 2020, Nova Scotia's average wages were up 1.9% in January-April 2021. Nationally, average wages were up 6.1% in January-April 2021 over January-April 2020. Average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+8.5%) and British Columbia (+6.2%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+0.3%).
In January-April 2021, average weekly earnings were up 1.7% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors over January-April 2020. Goods sector wages were up for construction and manufacturing sectors. Service sector average earnings were up 1.8% in January-April 2021. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in transportation/warehousing (+14.4%) and finance & insurance (+11.4%). Service sector earnings decreased the most in health care and social assistance (-6.8%) and information & culture (-6.3%).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-April 2021 vs January-April 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