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November 25, 2021EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, SEPTEMBER 2021 PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
With September reference month results, year-over-year (September 2021 vs September 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-Sep 21 vs Jan-Sep 20) shows the rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nova Scotia had 421,529 payroll employees in September 2021, up 0.5% (+2,227) compared to August 2021, and up 5.3% (+21,027) compared to September 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 2020 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 September 2021. Nova Scotia's payroll employment returned again to a path of recovery starting in June 2021.
Canada had 16.8 million employees, an increase of 0.5% (+91,125) compared to last month and up 6.2% (+985,587) compared to a year ago.
Compared to February 2020, Nova Scotia's payroll employment was down 0.5% in September 2021. Nationally, payroll employment was down 1.5% in September 2021, with all provinces reporting decreases except New Brunswick (+2.8%). The largest payroll employment declines were observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (-2.7%) and Ontario (-2.6%).
In Jan-Sep 2021, Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased 6.4% over Jan-Sep 2020. Nationally, payroll employment rose 5.5% in Jan-Sep 2021, with all provinces reporting increases. The largest payroll employment increases were observed in Prince Edward Island (+8.7%) and New Brunswick (+7.6%). The slowest payroll employment growth was observed in Alberta (+4.3%).
In January-September 2021, payroll employment was up 6.8% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors compared to January-September 2020. Goods sector payroll employment was up in all sub-sectors with forestry/logging (+9.3%) recording the largest gain.
Service sector employment was up 6.3% in January-September 2021 compared to January-September 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) increased 0.2% (+$2.28) from August 2021 to $980.10 in September 2021. Average weekly wages were up 2.1% compared to September 2020. Canadians' average weekly wages increased 0.2% month to month ($1,136.61 in September) and were 2.6% above wages a year ago.
Across the country, there were monthly increases in seven provinces, with the largest increases in New Brunswick (+1.4%). The largest decline was in British Columbia (-0.5%).
Compared to a year ago, average wages were higher in all provinces with British Columbia (+4.0%) recording the largest gain and Prince Edward Island (+0.3%) reporting the slowest gain.
Compared to February 2020, average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in British Columbia (+10.9%) and Ontario (+9.7%). The slowest growth in average weekly earnings was observed in Alberta (+4.6%).
Compared to January-September 2020, Nova Scotia's average wages were up 1.4% in January-September 2021. Nationally, average wages were up 3.4% in the first nine months of the year. Average wages were higher in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador (-0.3%), with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in Ontario (+4.2%) and British Columbia (+4.3%).
In January-September 2021, average weekly earnings were up 3.4% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors over January-September 2020. Goods sector wages were up for construction and manufacturing sectors. Service sector average earnings were up 1.0% in January-September 2021. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in administration and support services (+6.6%) and finance and insurance (+6.3%). Service sector earnings decreased the most in information and culture (-6.9%).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-September 2021 vs January-September 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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