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The Daily. Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Employment, earnings and hours

Average weekly earnings for all employees rose in March by $2.25 to $662.75. Year-over-year average weekly earnings increased 2.1%, up slightly from the 2.0% growth rates registered in January and February. However, year-over-year earnings gains are still below the average growth rate of 2.3% seen in the last three months of 2000.

Average weekly earnings gains in March were predominantly in goods-producing industries. Stronger gains in both durable and non-durable manufacturing were offset somewhat by a slight decline in construction. On a year-over-year basis, earnings gains in goods-producing industries were only 0.8%. By contrast, year-over-year gains in service-producing industries were much stronger, 2.7%.

Average hourly earnings for hourly paid employees were $16.59 in March, up 6 cents from February. Average weekly hours for hourly employees were down slightly to 31.8. Average overtime hours were unchanged from February.

In March, the number of employees on payrolls increased by 11,000. Monthly employment growth has slowed since the third quarter of 2000, although year-over-year employment growth is still above 3%. In March, significant employment gains were confined to Alberta and Ontario. Alberta had notable gains in oil and gas; Ontario had more widespread gains by industry.

Note: Starting with the January 2001 data, the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours is now publishing its estimates based on the North American Industry Classification (NAICS). The NAICS-based estimates are not comparable with the previously published estimates based on the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). To facilitate the transition, NAICS-based historical series from January 1991 to December 2000 have been produced. Please note that the levels of employment and average earnings of the NAICS-based series have been adjusted to reflect the levels derived from the administrative sample; they were also affected by slight modifications to the industrial coverage and improvements to the methodology of the survey. In addition, seasonal factors have been revised to improve the historical consistency of the seasonally adjusted estimates.

A concordance table between NAICS and 1980 SIC codes is available on request. A description of the conversion process and its impact on the data is also available in the January 2001 issue of Employment, earnings and hours (72-002-XIB, $24/$240) or may be obtained from Jean Leduc (613-951-4090; fax: 613-951-4087; labour@statcan.gc.ca). For more information on the NAICS, consult the Statistical methods page on Statistics Canada's Web site (www.statcan.ca).

Available on CANSIM: tables 2810023-2810040 and matrices 17000-17221, 17224-17235, 17238, 17252-17264 and 17266-17283.

Detailed industry data and other labour market indicators will be available in June in standard tables in the monthly publication Employment, earnings and hours (72-002-XIB, $24/$240). Annual averages for 2000 are now available through CANSIM and by custom tabulations from the Labour Statistics Division.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Robert Frindt or Jean Leduc (613-951-4090; fax: 613-951-4087; labour@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.

Average weekly earnings for all employees

Number of employees