Average weekly earnings in B.C. edged up 0.2% in March to $840.72, for a 3.5% year over year increase, according to a report released this morning by Statistics Canada.
B.C.’s earnings growth, however, failed to keep pace with national averages. Nationally, average weekly earnings rose by 0.5% to $876.53 in March and 4.1% year over year.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s average weekly earnings grew fastest in the last year, rising 6.1% to $888.16.
In the same period, Alberta’s earnings grew 5.8% to $1,036.11; Quebec’s grew 5.3% to $811.35 and Nunavut’s grew 5.1% to $881.22.
Nova Scotia posted the slowest annual average weekly earnings growth, rising 2.1% to $764.59. The Northwest Territories and P.E.I followed, with annual earnings growth of 3%, rising to $1,218.14 and $729.81, respectively.
Earnings in the finance and insurance sector’s grew fastest year over year, rising 7.6% to $1,107.52. Other sectors with strong earnings growth included transportation and warehousing at 7.5%; forestry, logging and support at 6.3%; and wholesale trade at 6.3%.
Average weekly earnings decreased most drastically (-7.4%) in the management of companies and enterprises, falling to $1,154,11.
Earnings also fell in the utilities sector (-3.9%) and in mining and quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (-1.3%).
Jenny Wagler
Twitter: @JennyWagler_BIV