May 31, 2017COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES Q1 2017 
Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted employee compensation (wages+salaries+employer social contributions) increased 0.8 per cent in the first quarter 2017 to $5.62 billion. Compared to the first quarter of 2016 compensation was up 1.4 per cent.
The wages and salaries portion of employee compensation was up 0.9 per cent to $4.80 billion; an increase of 1.5 per cent over the same quarter 2016. Employers' social contributions increased 0.3 per cent in the quarter and were 0.8 per cent higher than the first quarter 2016.
For the quarter, Canada's employee compensation was up 0.9 per cent as compensation increased in all provinces except New Brunswick (-0.7 per cent). Nova Scotia was ranked 6th in terms of growth, ahead of Alberta and the other Atlantic provinces. The fastest growth for the quarter was in Manitoba and British Columbia (both 1.4 per cent), followed by Quebec (1.2 per cent).
Comparing the first quarter of 2017 with the first quarter of 2016, Canada's employee compensation was up 3.0 per cent. Growth was above the national rate in six provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. Compensation fell in Alberta (-0.4%).
Unadjusted data comparing the first quarter of 2017 with that of 2016 indicates that total wages and salaries paid in the goods sector rose by 4.7 per cent.
Increases in the mining and oil and gas extraction, manufacturing, construction, and utilities sectors more than offset a decline in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Three private service sectors reported rising wages and salaries while two reported a decline. The largest gains were reported in the professional/personal services sector sectors where total wages and salaries rose 5.0 per cent, while the largest loss was in transportation and storage where total wages and salaries fell 4.7 per cent .
Among public and mixed public/private sectors, federal public administration saw the largest increase in total wages and salaries at 4.7 per cent, while wages and salaries declined in educational services, military, and local government administration.
Note: comparison of wages and salaries by sector rely on data that are neither seasonally adjusted nor adjusted to reflect differences in pay periods from one year to the next.
Source: CANSIM table 382-0006