Payroll earnings rose 0.4 per cent in August: StatsCan

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $918 in August, up 0.4 per cent from July.

It says weekly earnings were up 1.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

That year-over-year increase reflects a number of factors, including wage growth, changes in the composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience, as well as average hours worked.

Year-over-year growth in average weekly earnings outpaced the national average in four of the largest industrial sectors, led by administrative and support services as well as construction.

Average weekly earnings in administrative and support services increased 5.2 per cent to $760 in August, compared with the same month in 2012, while average earnings in construction grew by 4.7 per cent to $1,203.

Year-over-year earnings growth of non-farm payroll employees was above the national average in five provinces, but edged down in Manitoba and New Brunswick.