Hourly Wages are Increasing in Canada for Salaried and Hourly Employees
Newly published statistics from Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reveal that in February 2023, the average hourly wages for both salaried and hourly employees in Canada experienced an upward trend.
Regarding salaried employees, the average monthly wage climbed from $42.37 in January to $42.58 in February 2023. Similarly, for those who are paid by the hour, the average wage increased from $29.25 to $29.44 during the same period, indicating a positive growth.
The upward trajectory of these wage increases follows the ongoing patterns observed in recent months. Salaried employees in Canada have witnessed a continuous rise in their hourly wages for six consecutive months, while hourly-paid workers have experienced eight consecutive months of wage growth.
The data provided by StatsCan further delves into the average hourly wages on a provincial/territorial and industry basis, which we will now examine.
Average Hourly Wages – Hourly-Paid Employees Across Different Provinces and Territories
Below is a table showcasing the fluctuations in average hourly wages for hourly-paid employees in each province from December 2022 to February 2023.
Categorized by region, the following sections will highlight the top three industries in each province/territory where hourly-paid employees observed the highest average hourly wage growth. It will also identify the three industries where wages experienced the most significant decline from January to February 2023.
British Columbia
Wage increases:
- Utilities: The average hourly wage in the Utilities sector increased by $5.22, rising from $44.68 to $49.90.
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: Hourly-paid employees in this sector experienced a wage increase of $1.92, with average hourly wages climbing from $46.90 to $48.82.
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: Employees in this sector observed an average hourly wage increase of $1.90, with wages rising from $36.91 to $38.81.
Wage Decreases:
- Finance and Insurance: The Finance and Insurance sector experienced a decline in average hourly wages, decreasing $0.69 from $34.96 to $34.27.
- Educational Services: Hourly wages in the Educational Services sector decreased by $0.65, dropping from $23.83 to $23.18.
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration: Average hourly wages in this sector experienced a decrease of $0.19, falling from $27.78 to $27.59.
Alberta
Wage increases:
- Forestry, Logging, and Support: + $3.16 – rising from $40.77 to $43.93
- Information and Cultural Industries: + $1.95, rising from $59.98 to $61.93
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: + $1.61, rising from $45.74 to $47.35
Wage decreases:
- Transportation and Warehousing: -$1.53 dropping from $37.08 to $35.55
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: – $7.08, dropping from $58.53 to $51.45
- Finance and Insurance: – $3.72, dropping from $27.57 to $23.85
New Brunswick
Wage increases:
- Transportation and Warehousing: +$1.36, rising from $27.11 to $28.47
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: + $1.31, rising from $22.43 to $23.74
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration: + $0.30, rising from $24.08 to $24.38
Wage decreases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: – $15.79, dropping from $47.57 to $31.78
- Manufacturing: – $0.38, dropping from $27.21 to $26.83
- Accommodation and Food Services: – $0.32, dropping from $16.72 to $16.40
Nova Scotia
Wage increases:
- Finance and Insurance: + $10.27, rising from $11.70 to $21.97
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: + $1.35, rising from $30.73 to $32.08
- Transportation and Warehousing: + $1.06, rising from $28.70 to $29.76
Wage decreases:
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: – $1.18, dropping from $22.37 to $21.19
- Educational Services: – $0.39, dropping from $22.22 to $21.83.
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: – $0.16, dropping from $30.02 to $29.86
Manitoba
Wage increases:
- Manufacturing: + $0.87, rising from $29.21 to $30.08
- Construction: + $0.78, rising from $33.35 to $34.13
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: + $0.60, rising from $33.25 to $33.85
Wage decreases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: – $7.57, dropping from $40.93 to $33.36
- Transportation and Warehousing: – $0.86, dropping from $30.73 to $29.87
- Educational Services: – $0.49, dropping from $22.11 to $21.62
Newfoundland and Labrador
Wage increases:
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: + $2.78, rising from $38.12 to $40.90
- Construction: + $1.73, rising from $35.52 to $37.25
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: + $1.25, rising from $44.77 to $46.02
Wage decreases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: – $13.20, dropping from $37.26 to $24.06
- Manufacturing: – $1.50, dropping from $30.76 to $29.26.
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: – $0.93, dropping from $25.13 to $24.20.
Ontario
Wage increases:
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: + $4.63, rising from $41.92 to $46.55
- Information and Cultural Industries: +f $3.82, rising from $34.45 to $38.27
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: + $2.03, rising from $34.46 to $36.49
Wage decreases:
- Manufacturing: – $1.04, dropping from $31.27 to $30.23
- Transportation and Warehousing: – $0.52, dropping from $29.39 to $28.87
- Forestry, Logging, and Support: – $0.46, dropping from $32.09 to $31.63
Northwest Territories
Wage increases:
- Construction: + $1.64, rising from $40.32 to $41.96
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: + $1.61, rising from $38.31 to $39.92
- Accommodation and Food Services: + $1.13, rising from $19.91 to $21.04
Wage decreases:
- Educational Services: – $0.22, dropping from $22.09 to $21.87
- Transportation and Warehousing: – $0.18, dropping from $35.10 to $34.92
Note: Due to limitations on NWT data, only the top two industries with the highest hourly wage decreases among employees paid by the hour are reported.
Nunavut
Wage increases:
- Transportation and Warehousing: + $1.04, rising from $30.69 to $31.73.
- Construction: + $0.94, rising from $38.92 to $39.86
- Accommodation and Food Services: + $0.58, rising from $23.72 to $24.30
Wage decrease:
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: – $0.71, dropping from $28.91 to $28.20.
Note: Due to limitations on Nunavut data, only the top industry with the highest hourly wage decrease among employees paid by the hour is reported.
Quebec
Wage increases:
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: + $12.38, rising from $40.27 to $52.65
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration: + $1.05, rising from $26.01 to $27.06.
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: + $0.90, rising from $24.09 to $24.99.
Wage decreases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: – $6.05, dropping from $39.92 to $33.87
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: – $0.88, dropping from $24.93 to $24.05
- Manufacturing:- $0.81, dropping from $31.35 to $30.54
Yukon
Wage increases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: + $4.89, rising from $32.31 to $37.20
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: + $1.97, rising from $24.77 to $26.74
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services: + $1.39, rising from $23.54 to $24.93
Wage decreases:
- Transportation and Warehousing: – $0.33, dropping from $35.93 to $35.60
- Construction: – $0.30, dropping from $37.46 to $37.16
Note: Due to limitations on Yukon data, we are only able to report the top two industries that experienced wage decreases among employees paid by the hour.
Saskatchewan
Wage increases:
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: + $3.79, rising from $20.94 to $24.73
- Finance and Insurance: + $3.72, rising from $23.85 to $27.57
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: + $1.83, rising from $44.12 to $45.95
Wage decreases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: – $4.28, dropping from $33.66 to $29.38
- Transportation and Warehousing: – $1.94, dropping from $33.26 to $31.32
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: – $1.12, dropping from $30.06 to $28.94
Prince Edward Island
Wage increases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: + $3.08, rising from $30.46 to $33.54
- Construction: + $0.61, rising from $27.78 to $28.39
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: + $0.33, rising from $30.08 to $30.41
Wage decreases:
- Educational Services: – $1.56, dropping from $23.43 to $21.87
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration: – $0.18, dropping from $24.21 to $24.03
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services: – $0.17, dropping from $19.96 to $19.79.
Average Hourly Wages – Salaried Employees Across Different Provinces and Territories
Below is a summary of the changes in average hourly wages for salaried employees in each province between December 2022 and February 2023:
Broken down by region, the sections below highlight the three industries in each province/territory where salaried employees have witnessed the highest average hourly wage increases, as well as the three industries where wages have experienced the most significant decreases between January and February 2023.
British Columbia
Wage Increases:
- Forestry, Logging, and Support: +$3.16, rising from $40.77 to $43.93
- Utilities: +$1.95, rising from $59.98 to $61.93
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: +$1.61, rising from $45.74 to $47.35
Wage Decreases:
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: -$3.96, dropping from $67.75 to $63.79
- Transportation and Warehousing: -$1.53, dropping from $37.08 to $35.55
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: -$1.18, dropping from $38.51 to $37.33.
Alberta
Wage Increases:
- Transportation and Warehousing: +$3.66, rising from $40.23 to $43.89
- Manufacturing: +$3.61, rising from $45.52 to $49.13
- Forestry, Logging, and Support: +$3.57, rising from $38.60 to $42.17
Wage Decreases:
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services: -$4.18, dropping from $40.41 to $36.23
- Finance and Insurance: -$2.22, dropping from $44.50 to $42.28
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: -$2.04, dropping from $45.50 to $43.46
New Brunswick
Wage Increases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: +$11.55, rising from $42.75 to $54.30
- Accommodation and Food Services: +$2.42, rising from $20.54 to $22.96
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services: +$1.31, rising from $33.76 to $35.07
Wage Decreases:
- Forestry, Logging, and Support: -$8.36, dropping from $41.23 to $32.87
- Transportation and Warehousing: -$0.83, dropping from $35.62 to $34.79.
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: -$0.73, dropping from $39.76 to $39.03.
Nova Scotia
Wage Increases:
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: +$2.19, rising from $41.21 to $43.40
- Educational Services: +$0.57, rising from $34.86 to $35.43
- Manufacturing: +$0.22, rising from $40.18 to $40.40
Wage Decreases:
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration: -$2.95, dropping from $34.10 to $31.15
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services: -$2.87, dropping from $34.86 to $31.99.
- Finance and Insurance: -$2.75, dropping from $42.05 to $39.30.
Manitoba
Wage Increases:
- Manufacturing: +$3.52, rising from $41.06 to $44.58
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: +$2.54, rising from $40.87 to $43.41
- Information and Cultural Industries: +$2.52, rising from $38.13 to $40.65
Wage Decreases:
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: -$4.98, dropping from $40.47 to $35.49
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: -$2.37, dropping from $34.38 to $32.01
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: -$1.65, dropping from $33.31 to $31.66
Newfoundland and Labrador
Wage Increases:
- Manufacturing: +$2.03, rising from $42.94 to $44.97
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: +$1.19, rising from $33.03 to $34.22
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: +$0.99, rising from $38.84 to $39.83
Wage Decreases:
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration: -$3.89, dropping from $39.12 to $35.23.
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: -$3.26, dropping from $54.65 to $51.39.
- Information and Cultural Industries: -$1.68, dropping from $39.04 to $37.36.
Ontario
Wage Increases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: +$2.34, rising from $49.05 to $51.39
- Utilities: +$2.31, rising from $60.96 to $63.27
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: +$2.02, rising from $46.47 to $48.49.
Wage Decreases:
- Forestry, Logging, and Support: -$2.93, dropping from $41.13 to $38.20.
- Finance and Insurance: -$2.19, dropping from $45.27 to $43.08.
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: -$2.06, dropping from $35.47 to $33.41.
Northwest Territories
Wage Increases:
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: +$10.05, rising from $57.08 to $67.13
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: +$7.08, rising from $51.45 to $58.53
- Construction: +$6.54, rising from $51.67 to $58.21
Wage Decreases:
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: -$5.51, dropping from $34.07 to $28.56.
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration: -$4.41, dropping from $52.42 to $48.01.
- Accommodation and Food Services: -$0.99, dropping from $26.58 to $25.89.
Nunavut
Wage Increases:
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: +$2.17, rising from $41.93 to $44.10.
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: +$1.23, rising from $42.28 to $43.51.
Wage Decreases:
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: -$4.08, dropping from $60.03 to $55.95.
- Transportation and Warehousing: -$0.04, dropping from $40.96 to $40.92.
Note: Due to data limitations in Nunavut (NU), we can only provide information on the top two industries that experienced wage increases and decreases among salaried employees.
Quebec
Wage Increases:
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: +$3.58, rising from $35.82 to $39.40
- Utilities: +$3.49, rising from $65.61 to $69.10
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: +$3.15, rising from $44.16 to $47.31
Wage Decreases:
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: -$3.79, dropping from $56.21 to $52.42
- Forestry, Logging, and Support: -$3.03, dropping from $32.81 to $29.78
- Accommodation and Food Services: -$2.06, dropping from $27.74 to $25.68
Yukon
Wage Increases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: +$6.09, rising from $47.71 to $53.80
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: +$1.10, rising from $38.05 to $39.15
Wage Decreases:
- Accommodation and Food Services: -$2.60, dropping from $29.25 to $26.65
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: -$2.46, dropping from $37.56 to $35.10
- Construction: -$1.35, dropping from $46.84 to $45.49
Note: Due to data limitations in Yukon, only the top two industries experiencing wage increases among salaried employees could be reported.
Saskatchewan
Wage Increases:
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: +$3.42, rising from $31.69 to $35.11
- Transportation and Warehousing: +$1.71, rising from $38.49 to $40.20
- Manufacturing: +$1.60, rising from $44.12 to $45.72
Wage Decreases:
- Finance and Insurance: -$4.72, dropping from $43.48 to $38.76
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: -$4.16, dropping from $40.02 to $35.86
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration: -$2.53, dropping from $33.80 to $31.27
Prince Edward Island
Wage Increases:
- Information and Cultural Industries: +$17.74, rising from $34.83 to $52.57
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation: +$3.58, rising from $34.51 to $38.09
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: +$1.53, rising from $37.52 to $39.05
Wage Decreases:
- Educational Services: -$3.13, dropping from $36.01 to $32.88
- Finance and Insurance: -$2.10, dropping from $38.95 to $36.85
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services: -$1.28, dropping from $29.24 to $27.96.
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