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October 28, 2021EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, AUGUST 2021 PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
With August reference month results, year-over-year (August 2021 vs August 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-Aug 21 vs Jan-Aug 20) shows the rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nova Scotia had 418,083 payroll employees in August 2021, down 0.2% (-719) compared to July 2021, and up 6.6% (+25,845) compared to August 2020. Nova Scotia's payroll employment had been trending upwards since 2017 but declined sharply between February and May 2020 due to restrictions and closures resulting from COVID-19. There was a partial rebound from June to November due to eased restrictions. In December 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment edged down once again on renewed COVID-19 restrictions. Nova Scotia's payroll employment returned to a path of recovery starting in January 2021. Nova Scotia imposed restrictions again at the end of April. These restrictions were eased part-way through June to August 2021. Nova Scotia's payroll employment returned again to a path of recovery starting in June 2021.
Canada had 16.7 million employees, an increase of 0.4% (+59,698) compared to last month and up 7.9% (+1,221,436) compared to a year ago.
Compared to February 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment was down 1.3% in August 2021. Nationally, payroll employment was down 2.1% in August 2021, with all provinces reporting decreases except New Brunswick (+1.6%). The largest payroll employment declines were observed in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador (both at -3.4%).
In Jan-Aug 2021, Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased 6.5% over Jan-Aug 2020. Nationally, payroll employment rose 5.4% in Jan-Aug 2021, with all provinces reporting increases. The largest payroll employment increases were observed in Prince Edward Island (+8.8%) and New Brunswick (+7.9%). The slowest payroll employment growth was observed in Alberta (+4.0%).
In January-August 2021, payroll employment was up 7.2% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors compared to January-August 2020. Goods sector payroll employment was up in all sub-sectors with forestry/logging (+9.5%) recording the largest gain.
Service sector employment was up 6.4% in January-August 2021 compared to January-August 2020. Service sector payroll employment increased the most in percentage terms in management of companies and arts, entertainment and recreation. Payroll employment decreased in real estate/rental & leasing.
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
Changes in average weekly earnings reflect wage growth as well as changes in the composition of employment by industry/occupation/experience, and average hours worked per week. During COVID-19, large employment losses have been reported in industries with relatively low average weekly earnings. This means that average weekly earnings were increasing because those remaining employed are working in industries with higher average weekly earnings. Declining average weekly earnings may similarly reflect re-employment in lower wage industries.
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings (including overtime, seasonally adjusted) decreased 0.3% (-$2.64) from July 2021 to $981.14 in August 2021. Average weekly wages were up 1.4% compared to August 2020. Canadians' average weekly wages increased 0.7% month to month ($1,138.00 in August) and were 2.6% above wages a year ago.
Across the country, there were monthly increases in seven provinces, with the largest increases in Newfoundland and Labrador (+2.2%). The largest decline was in Prince Edward Island (-1.2%).
Compared to a year ago, average wages were higher in all provinces except Prince Edward Island (-1.2%), with British Columbia (+5.0%) recording the largest gain.
Compared to February 2020, average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in British Columbia (+11.6%) and Ontario (+10.5%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Alberta (+3.5%) and New Brunswick (+4.6%).
Compared to January-August 2020, Nova Scotia's average wages were up 1.3% in January-August 2021. Nationally, average wages were up 3.5% in the first eight months of the year. Average wages were higher in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador (-0.7%), with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+4.6%) and British Columbia (+4.4%).
In January-August 2021, average weekly earnings were up 2.9% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors over January-August 2020. Goods sector wages were up for construction and manufacturing sectors. Service sector average earnings were up 0.9% in January-August 2021. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in administration and support services (+7.4%) and finance and insurance (+6.8%). Service sector earnings decreased the most in information and culture (-7.6%).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-August 2021 vs January-August 2020)
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0222-01 Employment, average hourly and weekly earnings (including overtime), and average weekly hours for the industrial aggregate excluding unclassified businesses, monthly, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0223-01 Employment and average weekly earnings (including overtime) for all employees by province and territory, monthly, seasonally adjusted
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