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Thomas StorringDirector – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

November 28, 2024
PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT AND AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS, SEPTEMBER 2024

Monthly (September 2024 vs August 2024, seasonally adjusted)

Nova Scotia had 459,262 payroll employees in September 2024, up 0.04% (+192) compared to August 2024. Canada had 18.18 million employees, down 0.31% from August 2024. There were declines in six provinces, with Manitoba reporting the largest decline. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the largest gain, with no change in Saskatchewan.

Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings were $1,128.25 in September of 2024, a decline of $8.24 (-0.73%) from August 2024.

Nationally, average weekly earnings were $1,280.28, an increase of 0.47% (+$6.03) from average weekly earnings in August 2024. Six provinces reported declines in average weekly earnings, with the largest decline in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, followed closely by Newfoundland and Labrador. The fastest gain was posted in Ontario, followed by Prince Edward Island.

Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings in September 2024 were second lowest among provinces, ahead of Prince Edward Island. Alberta reported the highest average weekly earnings.

Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings were highest in information and culture, professional and technical services, and company management industries. The lowest average weekly earnings were reported in Nova Scotia's accommodations and food service industries, retail trade, and arts, entertainment and recreation.

In September 2024, Nova Scotia's average weekly wages were 88.1% of the national average. Nova Scotia average weekly wages were below the comparable national average for every industry except health and social, with the smallest gap reported for retail. The largest gap reported was in education (83.4% of the national average).

Year-over-year (September 2024 vs September 2023)

Compared with the same month in 2023, Nova Scotia's payroll employment grew by 2.1% (+9,336) in September 2024. This was higher than the national average gain of 0.5%. All provinces reported growth in payroll employment except Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba, with the fastest gain in Nova Scotia.

Among the industries reported on by Statistics Canada, Nova Scotia's largest industries of employment were health care/social assistance (which includes daycares), followed by retail trade and education.

Construction as well as real estate/leasing had the fastest year-over-year growth in payroll employment in Nova Scotia. Administrative support/call centres and forestry/logging reported the largest percentage declines in payroll employment. 

Average weekly wages grew by 4.2% in Nova Scotia from September 2023 to September 2024. This was weaker than the national pace of 5.2%.

Average weekly wages grew by 5.2% across Canada from September 2023 to September 2024. There were gains in each province, with the fastest increases in Ontario and Prince Edward Island. New Brunswick reported the slowest gain.

Average weekly wages were up 3.6% in Nova Scotia's goods-producing industries and up 4.1% in Nova Scotia's services-producing industries. Most of the industries reported year-over-year growth in average weekly wages with the largest increases in administrative support/call centers, personal repair services, and retail trade. Average weekly wages were down in education, company management, and construction.

Year-to-date (January-September 2024 vs January-September 2023)

In January-September 2024, Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased 1.9% over January-September 2023, the largest gain among provinces. Across Canada, payroll employment growth was 1.1% with gains in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador.

In January-September 2024, health/social assistance as well as construction industries reported the fastest employment growth in percentage terms compared to the same period in 2023. Administrative support/call centres and forestry/logging reported the largest percentage declines. 

In January-September 2024, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings increased by 5.1% compared to the same period in 2023. National average weekly earnings were up 4.3% in the first nine months of the year with gains in all provinces. Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia reported the fastest gains in average weekly earnings while Alberta and New Brunswick reported the slowest growth rates.

In January-September 2024, information/culture, health/social assistance, and wholesale trade reported the fastest percentage gains in average weekly earnings compared to the same period in 2023. The only decline reported was in education.

In January-September 2024, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings were highest in professional and technical services industries followed by information/culture. Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings averaged 89.1% of the national value for all industries in January-September 2024. All Nova Scotia industries reported average weekly earnings below their national counterparts with the exception of health/social assistance. The gaps were narrowest in accommodation/food services as well as retail trade. Public administration and transportation workers in Nova Scotia reported the largest gap in average weekly earnings compared with the national average for the industry. 

 

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 adjustedTable 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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