Business size and earnings

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In 2010, an average worker in Canada's private sector earned approximately $830 per week or about $43,160 per year.

Generally, earnings were positively related to the size of the business. Employees working for businesses with fewer than 100 employees earned below average, $744 per week.

People working for larger firms (100 to 499 employees) earned above average wages of $841 weekly. The largest firms (500 or more employees) paid the highest wages at $916 per week.

In the service-producing sector, micro-firms had the highest weekly earnings of all small businesses at $760. This may be because employment in larger small firms is concentrated in the three lowest-paying industries: retail trade; accommodation and food services; and arts, entertainment and recreation.

On average, employees in the goods-producing sector were paid $319 more per week than those working in services. The difference between the sectors was greatest at large firms, $485 per week.

Chart 4.2 Average weekly earnings in the private sector, by firm size, 2010

View data source for chart 4.2

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