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July 28, 2022EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS AND HOURS, MAY 2022 PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
Nova Scotia had 438,744 payroll employees in May 2022, up 0.2% (+844) compared to April 2022, and up 7.6% (+30,865) compared to May 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.
Canada had 17.4 million employees, a decline of 0.1% (-26,131) compared to last month and up 8.5% (+1,359,997) compared to a year ago. The largest payroll employment increase compared to last month was observed in Prince Edward Island (+0.8%). Ontario and Manitoba (both at -0.4%) posted the largest month-over-month decline in May.
YEAR-TO-DATE (Jan-May 2022 vs. Jan-May 2021)
In January-May 2022, Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased 4.5% over January-May 2021. Nationally, payroll employment rose 7.7% in January-May 2022, with all provinces reporting increases. The largest payroll employment increases were observed in Ontario (+8.5%) and British Columbia (+8.1%). The slowest payroll employment growth was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+3.6%) and New Brunswick (+3.9%).
In January-May 2022, payroll employment was up 2.6% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors compared to the same period in 2021. Goods sector payroll employment was up in all sub-sectors except forestry/logging, with construction (+4.1%) recording the largest gain.
Service sector employment was up 4.5% in January-May 2022 compared to January-May 2021. Service sector payroll employment increased the most in percentage terms in accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment and recreation, and information and cultural. Payroll employment decreased in management of companies.
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings (including overtime, seasonally adjusted) declined 1.8% (-$18.14) from April 2022 to $1,007.21 in May 2022. Average weekly wages were up 1.9% compared to May 2021. Canadians' average weekly wages declined 0.1% month to month ($1,159.85 in May 2022) and were 2.5% above wages a year ago.
Across the country, there were monthly declined in six provinces, with the largest declines in Nova Scotia (-1.8%) and British Columbia (+-0.4%). The largest gain was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.2%).
Compared to a year ago, average wages were higher in all provinces, with New Brunswick (+7.4%) recording the largest gain. The smallest gain was observed in Manitoba (+1.1%).
YEAR-TO-DATE (Jan-May 2022 vs. Jan-May 2021)
Compared to January-May 2021, Nova Scotia's average wages were up 4.2% than in January-May 2022. Nationally, average wages were up 2.8% in the first five months of the year. Average wages were higher in all provinces, with the largest increase in percentage terms reported in New Brunswick (+5.4%). The smallest gain was observed in Ontario (+1.9%).
In January-May 2022, average weekly earnings were up 2.8% in Nova Scotia's goods producing sectors over January-May 2021. Goods sector wages were up for construction and manufacturing sectors. Service sector average earnings were up 4.5% in January-May 2022. Service sector earnings increased the most in percentage terms in information and cultural (+16.9%) and health and social assitance (+10.5%) and professional, scientific and technical services (+8.4%). Service sector earnings decreased the most in transportation and warehousing (-2.5%).
REFERENCE TABLES - (January-May 2022 vs. January-May 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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