Payroll employment, earnings and hours

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August 2011 (preliminary) (Previous release)

Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees increased 0.8% from July to $877.28 in August, following two months of small declines. On a year-over-year basis, average weekly earnings rose 1.9%, the lowest growth rate since November 2009.

Year-over-year change in average weekly hours and average weekly earnings

Year-to-year change in average weekly hours average weekly earnings

Chart description: Year-to-year change in average weekly hours average weekly earnings

The 1.9% year-over-year increase reflects a number of factors, such as wage growth and changes in the composition of employment by industry, by occupation and by level of job experience.

A decrease in average hours worked per week was also a factor in the 1.9% year-over-year growth in earnings in August. The average work week declined 0.3% from 33.0 hours in August 2010 to 32.9 hours in August 2011. Average hours fell in both the goods and services sectors.

Note to readers

The Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (SEPH) is a business census of non-farm payroll employees. Its key objective is to provide a monthly portrait of the level of earnings, the number of jobs and hours worked by detailed industry at the national, provincial and territorial level.

Statistics Canada also produces employment estimates from its monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS is a household survey whose main objective is to divide the working-age population into three mutually exclusive groups: the employed (including the self-employed), unemployed and not in the labour force. This survey is the official source for the unemployment rate and collects data on the socio-demographic characteristics of all those in the labour market.

As a result of conceptual and methodological differences, estimates of changes from SEPH and LFS do differ from time to time. However, the trends in the data are quite similar.

Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data, which facilitates comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations.

Non-farm payroll employment data are for all hourly and salaried employees, as well as "other employees" category, which includes piece-rate and commission-only employees.

Average weekly hours data are for hourly and salaried employees only and exclude businesses which could not be classified to a North American Industrial Classification System code.

All earnings data include overtime pay and exclude businesses which could not be classified to a North American Industrial Classification System code.

Average weekly earnings are derived by dividing total weekly earnings by the number of employees.

Data on the education sector

Changes in payroll employment in education during the summer months can be affected by changes in payment schedules and school-year calendars. Month-to-month changes should therefore be interpreted with caution, and more attention given to long-term trends.

Average weekly hours increased 0.3% from July, contributing to the 0.8% increase in average weekly earnings in August.

Average weekly earnings up in every province

Average weekly earnings rose in every province in the 12 months to August, led by increases in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Alberta.

Year-over-year change in average weekly earnings by province, August 2010 to August 2011

Year-to-year change in average weekly earnings by province, August 2010 to August 2011

Chart description: Year-to-year change in average weekly earnings by province, August 2010 to August 2011

On a year-over-year basis, average weekly earnings increased 4.7% to $875.07 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Earnings in this province have grown at a higher rate than the national average since December 2010.

Average weekly earnings in New Brunswick amounted to $792.01, up 4.5% from August 2010.

In Alberta, earnings increased 4.4% over the same period to $1,045.24. Earnings in Alberta remain the highest of all provinces (see "Provincial profile" section of this release).

The lowest growth rate occurred in Ontario, where the average weekly earnings of $894.17 in August have changed little since February 2011.

Average weekly earnings by industry

Year-over-year growth in average weekly earnings exceeded the national average of 1.9% in five of Canada's largest industrial sectors: educational services; wholesale trade; administrative and support services; construction; and retail trade. At the same time, earnings declined in accommodation and food services; health care and social assistance; and manufacturing.

Year-over-year change in average weekly earnings in the 10 largest sectors, August 2010 to August 2011

Year-to-year change in average weekly earnings in the 10 largest sectors, August 2010 to August 2011

Chart description: Year-to-year change in average weekly earnings in the 10 largest sectors, August 2010 to August 2011

In wholesale trade, average weekly earnings rose 4.7% to $1,052.52. Year-over-year growth in earnings among the larger wholesaler-distributor industries has been highest for those in food, beverage, tobacco; miscellaneous; and personal household goods.

Non-farm payroll employment by sector

On a monthly basis, non-farm payroll employment increased by 4,800 in August. Year over year, employment was up 1.6% (+238,400).

Monthly payroll employment increased in health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services and retail trade in August, while declines occurred in public administration, construction and manufacturing. The monthly decline in public administration was driven by the end of temporary jobs associated with the census program.

In the 12 months to August, among the 10 largest sectors, there was above-average growth in the number of employees in professional, scientific and technical services; construction; wholesale trade; health care and social assistance; and accommodation and food services.

Provincial profile: Alberta

From time to time, this release profiles an industrial sector or a province with a notable trend in earnings, hours or employment. This month, trends in Alberta are analyzed because of its higher-than-average growth in earnings, employment and hours during the past two years.

In August, non-farm payroll employment totalled nearly 1.8 million in Alberta, 12.2% of the national total. Between August 2010 and August 2011, payroll employment increased 4.5% (+78,800), the fastest growth rate of any province and nearly three times the national rate of 1.6%.

During the economic downturn of 2008 and 2009, payroll employment in Alberta declined at a much faster pace than the national average. Between August 2008 and August 2009, payroll employment in the province fell 5.1% compared with a 2.7% decline nationally.

However, from August 2009 to August 2011, employment levels more than recovered in Alberta, increasing 7.2% compared with the national average of 3.4%. Half of Alberta's increase has occurred since January 2011.

Payroll employment in Alberta, January 2008 to August 2011

Payroll employment in Alberta, January 2008 to August 2011

Chart description: Payroll employment in Alberta, January 2008 to August 2011

In the 12 months to August, payroll job gains in Alberta were widespread in the goods and services sectors.

The largest gains in the goods sector were in utility system construction; support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction; and oil and gas extraction.

Among the service sectors, the largest gains were in architectural, engineering and related services; traveller accommodation; restaurants; wholesalers of machinery, equipment and supplies; services to buildings and dwellings; employment services; machinery and equipment repair and maintenance; and specialized freight trucking.

Alberta has recorded the highest average weekly earnings of all provinces since 2005, when it surpassed Ontario. In the 12 months to August 2011, average weekly earnings in Alberta increased 4.4% to $1,045.24, one of the largest growth rates provincially.

Among the larger sectors, the increase in earnings over this period was above average in administrative and support services; wholesale trade; transportation and warehousing; and construction.

Compared with other provinces, Alberta has a higher share of employees who work in the goods sector, particularly in mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction; and construction. A larger proportion of Alberta employees also work in professional, scientific and technical services than in other provinces. These industries, which are higher paying, are a factor in Alberta's higher average wages.

Employees in Alberta also work more hours than employees in other provinces, in both the goods and services sectors. Average weekly hours worked in Alberta totalled 34.3 hours in August, compared with the national average of 32.9 hours.

In the goods sector, employees in Alberta worked an average of 40.2 hours a week in August, compared with the national average of 38.0 hours. In the services sector, average hours totalled 32.8 hours in Alberta, compared with 32.1 hours nationally.

While hours worked declined in most provinces in the 12 months to August, average weekly hours increased 0.9% in Alberta from 34.0 hours to 34.3 hours.

Available on CANSIM: tables 281-0023 to 281-0039 and 281-0041 to 281-0049.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2612.

A data table is available from the Key resource module of our website under Summary tables.

Detailed industry data, data by size of enterprise based on employment, and other labour market indicators are now available in the August 2011 issue of Employment, Earnings and Hours, Vol. 89, no. 8 (72-002-X, free). From the Key resource module of our website, choose Publications.

Data on payroll employment, earnings and hours for September will be released on November 24.

For more information, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (613-951-8116; toll-free 1-800-263-1136; infostats@statcan.gc.ca), Communications Division. To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Jeannine Usalcas (613-951-4720), Labour Statistics Division.