OTTAWA -- Statistics Canada says the average non-farm payroll employee earned $918.44 a week in October, up 0.5 per cent from September and up 1.4 per cent from the same month last year.
The federal agency said several factors contributed to the increase over the 12 months ended in October, including wage growth, changes in the composition of employment and average hours worked.
Non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 32.9 hours per week in October, down from 33.1 hours a year earlier and 33.0 hours per week in September of this year.
Growth in average weekly earnings compared with a year ago was above the national average in six of the largest industrial sectors, led by construction and administrative and support services.
The average weekly earnings in construction in October was $1,221, up 5.9 per cent over the previous 12 months, with gains in almost all industries in the sector.
Average weekly earnings in administrative an support services was $770, up 4.4 per cent from October 2012.
There were also increases in retail trade (up 2.4 per cent to $534) and wholesale trade (up 2.0 per cent to $1,075) but a decline in education services (down 1.9 per cent to $966).
Regionally, six provinces were above the national average in growth led by P.E.I. (up 4.7 per cent to $765) and Alberta (up 3.2 per cent to $1,126).
Ontario's growth was slightly below the national average (up 1.3 per cent to $924.82) while British Columbia (up 0.6 per cent to $877.65) and Manitoba (up 0.3 per cent to $837.80) had below-average growth.
New Brunswick was the only province to see a year-year decline, down 0.6 per cent to $808.76.
