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April 28, 2022EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, FEBRUARY 2022 PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
Nova Scotia had 430,645 payroll employees in February 2022, up 0.9% (+3,908) compared to January 2022, and up 3.8% (+15,668) compared to February 2021. 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 2020 to April 2021 due to eased restrictions. Nova Scotia imposed restrictions again at the end of April 2021. These restrictions were eased part-way through June to December 2021. Nova Scotia's payroll employment returned again to a path of recovery starting in June 2021. Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased in February 2022 coinciding with eased Omicron variant restrictions.
Canada had 17.2 million employees, an increase of 0.8% (+142,867) compared to last month and up 8.2% (+1,300,417) compared to a year ago. All provinces reported employment increases compared to last month.
YEAR-TO-DATE (Jan-Feb 2022 vs. Jan-Feb 2021)
In January-February 2022, Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased 3.5% over January-February 2021. Nationally, payroll employment rose 8.0% in January-February 2022, with all provinces reporting increases. The largest payroll employment increases were observed in Alberta (+8.7%) and Ontario (+8.6%). The slowest payroll employment growth was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+2.9%).
In January-February 2022, payroll employment was up 2.8% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors compared to January-February 2021. Goods sector payroll employment was up in all sub-sectors with construction (+4.5%) recording the largest gain.
Service sector employment was up 3.4% in January-February 2022 compared to January-February 2021. Service sector payroll employment increased the most in percentage terms in accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment and recreation, and professional, scientific and technical services. Payroll employment decreased the most in educational services.
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings (including overtime, seasonally adjusted) increased 0.2% (+$2.05) from January 2022 to $1,006.34 in February 2022. Average weekly wages were up 4.4% compared to February 2021. Canadians' average weekly wages increased 0.4% month to month ($1,161.49 in February 2022) and were 2.4% above wages a year ago.
Across the country, there were monthly increases in seven provinces, with the largest increases in Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.5%) and Manitoba (+0.8%). The largest decline was observed in Saskatchewan (-1.4%).
Compared to a year ago, average wages were higher in all provinces, with Newfoundland and Labrador (+5.3%) recording the largest gain. The smallest gain was observed in Ontario (+0.7%).
YEAR-TO-DATE (Jan-Feb 2022 vs. Jan-Feb 2021)
Compared to January-February 2021, Nova Scotia's average wages were up 2.9% in January-February 2022. Nationally, average wages were up 2.2% in the first two months of the year. Average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increases in percentage terms reported in British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador (both +4.0%). The smallest gain was observed in Ontario (+0.8%).
In January-February 2022, average weekly earnings were up 1.4% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors over January-February 2021. Goods sector wages were up for the construction sector and down for the manufacturing sector. Service sector average earnings were up 3.1% in January-February 2022. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in health and social assistance (+7.2%) and public administration (+6.2%). Service sector earnings decreased the most in transportation and warehousing (-4.3%).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-February 2022 vs. January-February 2021)
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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