The average weekly earnings for all workers in British Columbians increased in September, but remains below the Canadian average, Statistics Canada announced November 26.
Workers in B.C. earned $915 per week in September, compared with $903 in August—an increase of 1.3%. While this growth was higher than the national increase of 1%, British Columbians still earns less than the $955 average weekly pay seen across the country.
Year-over-year, British Columbians saw their earnings grow 1.9%, compared with 1.7% across Canada. Meanwhile, the number of employees has grown by more than 52,000 positions in the province.
Although Alberta continues to be hit by a slump in oil prices, workers in that province still have the highest earnings in the country at $1,136 per week. This is an increase of 0.6% compared with August. However, it was also the only province in Canada to see earnings drop over the past year; in September 2014, Albertans earned $1,153 on average.
Across the country, 98,000 jobs were added over the past year, in spite of the fact the number of positions in Alberta fell 2.7%.
“The weakest province remains Alberta, which shed 57,000 positions in the 12 months ending September,” said CIBC Capital Markets’ Nick Exarhos.
Nationwide, the highest average earnings continue to be found in mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction. At $1,949 per week, this is a drop of 5.7% compared with a year ago as oil-dependent companies decrease their payrolls in response to low crude prices.
These declines were offset by earnings gains in administrative and support earnings (up 7.8% to $793 per week), wholesale trade (up 6.8% to $1,167) and educational services (up 6% to $1,030).
“All told, the employment data today is comforting in so far as it tells us that payroll hiring isn’t falling off a cliff, despite troubles in the oil,” Exarhos said.
The Canadian dollar got a boost on today’s news, increasing almost a tenth of a cent to 75.22 cents U.S. as of press time.
