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December 19, 2024PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT AND AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS, OCTOBER 2024 Monthly (October 2024 vs September 2024, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia had 459,832 payroll employees in October 2024, down 0.03% (-118) compared to September 2024. Canada had 18.19 million employees, down 0.12% from September 2024. There were declines in seven provinces, with Manitoba reporting the largest decline. New Brunswick reported the largest gain over September 2024.
Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings were $1,142.14 in October of 2024, an increase of $17.49 (+1.56%) from September 2024.
Nationally, average weekly earnings were $1,284.43, an increase of 0.53% (+$6.73) from average weekly earnings in September 2024. Eight provinces reported increases in average weekly earnings, with the largest increase in Nova Scotia. The fastest decline was reported in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings in October 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/culture, professional/technical services, company management and finance/insurance industries. The lowest average weekly earnings were reported in Nova Scotia's accommodations/food service industries, retail trade, and arts/entertainment/recreation.
In October 2024, Nova Scotia's average weekly wages were 88.9% of the national average. Nova Scotia average weekly wages were below the comparable national average for every industry, with the smallest gap reported for health/social assistance. The largest gap reported was in forestry/logging (76.8% of the national average).
Year-over-year (October 2024 vs October 2023)
Compared with the same month in 2023, Nova Scotia's payroll employment grew by 1.5% (+6,639) in October 2024. This was faster than the national average gain of 0.7%. All provinces reported growth in payroll employment except Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba, with the fastest gain in Prince Edward Island.
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. Wholesale trade and administrative support/call centres reported the largest percentage declines in payroll employment.
Average weekly wages grew by 5.0% in Nova Scotia from October 2023 to October 2024. This was weaker than the national pace of 5.3%.
Average weekly wages grew by 5.3% across Canada from October 2023 to October 2024. There were gains in each province, with the fastest increase in Prince Edward Island. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the slowest gain.
Average weekly wages were up 4.6% in Nova Scotia's goods-producing industries and up 5.0% in Nova Scotia's services-producing industries. All of the reported industries had year-over-year growth in average weekly wages with the largest increases in administrative support/call centers, wholesale trade, and information/cultural services. Average weekly wages grew slower for construction and accommodation/food services.
Year-to-date (January-October 2024 vs January-October 2023)
In January-October 2024, Nova Scotia's payroll employment increased 1.8% over January-October 2023, the largest gain among provinces (tied with Alberta). Across Canada, payroll employment growth was 1.0% with gains in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador.
In January-October 2024, health care/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, wholesale trade, and forestry/logging reported the largest percentage declines.
In January-October 2024, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings increased by 5.1% compared to the same period in 2023. National average weekly earnings were up 4.4% in the first ten months of the year with gains in all provinces. Prince Edward Island reported the fastest gains in average weekly earnings while New Brunswick reported the slowest growth, year-to-date.
In January-October 2024, information/culture, health care/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-October 2024, Nova Scotia's average weekly earnings were highest in professional/technical services industries followed by information/culture. Nova Scotians' average weekly earnings averaged 89.1% of the national value for all industries in January-October 2024. All Nova Scotia industries reported average weekly earnings below their national counterparts with the exception of health care/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 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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