March 01, 2016COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES Q4 2015 
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employee compensation (wages+salaries+employer social contributions) increased by 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter to $5.53 billion. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2014 compensation was up 3.0 per cent. Wages and salaries increased 0.7 per cent in the quarter to $4.72 billion and were up 3.0 per cent compared to 2014 Q4. Employers' social contribution increased 0.9 per cent in the quarter and were 2.8 per cent higher than 2014 Q4.
For the quarter, Canada employee compensation was up 0.7 per cent with Alberta (-0.3%) the sole province experiencing a decline. Growth increased 2.2 per cent in New Brunswick and 2.0 per cent in Prince Edward Island. Compared to the fourth quarter last year, growth was positive in all provinces except Alberta (-3.7%). The fastest growth occurred in Prince Edward Island (+5.6%), New Brunswick (+4.7%), Ontario (+4.4%) and Manitoba (+4.1%).
On a year-to-date basis (January-December 2015 vs. January-December 2014), Nova Scotia compensation of employees has increased 2.2 per cent, below national growth of 2.6 per cent. The fastest growth for 2015 was in Ontario (+3.9%), Prince Edward Island (+3.6% and British Columbia(+3.5%). Alberta growth has been the slowest with a decline of 0.6 per cent.
For 2015, total wages and salaries reported by sector (excluding social insurance contributions, not seasonally adjusted) increased in both services-producing industries (+1.9%) and goods-producing industries (+3.4%).
Within the goods-producing industries, wages and salaries were up for utilities(+6.9%), manufacturing (+3.8%), agriculture, forestry, fishing (+9.2%), and construction (+2.6%) but down in mining and oil and gas extraction (-11.5%).
Wages and salaries increased for most services-producing sectors. Gains were seen in information and cultural industries (+4.4%), transportation and storage (+3.3%) and finance and real estate (+2.6%). Increases also occurred with educational services (+3.8%), health care and social assistance (+2.7%), and local government public administration (+4.7%). Declines occurred with military (-3.1%), federal public administration (-2.2%), and provincial public administration (-1.0%).
Note: The employee of compensation data is not adjusted for trading days or pay periods.
Source: CANSIM table 382-0006