Workers in Canada continue to earn more on average per hour.
In a positive trend for workers in Canada, both salaried and hourly employees have witnessed an increase in their average hourly wages, according to recently released data from Statistics Canada (StatsCan) in February 2023. This upward trajectory builds upon previous months' trends, with hourly wages rising for eight consecutive months for hourly-paid workers and six straight months for salaried employees. Let's delve into the details of the wage increases and explore the variations by province/territory and industry.
Average Hourly Wages for Salaried Employees
On a national scale, salaried employees observed a modest month-over-month increase in their average hourly wages from $42.37 in January 2023 to $42.58 in February 2023, inclusive of overtime hours. This positive growth signifies improved earning potential for salaried workers across Canada.
Variations by Province/Territory
The average hourly wages for salaried employees, broken down by province/territory, provide insight into the regional trends and fluctuations in earnings. Here's a snapshot of the changes in average hourly wages for salaried employees between December 2022 and February 2023 across various provinces and territories:
| Province/Territory | Average Hourly Wage (December 2022) | Average Hourly Wage (February 2023) |
| Alberta (AB) | $41.20 | $41.75 |
| British Columbia (BC) | $38.42 | $38.77 |
| Manitoba (MB) | $37.10 | $37.51 |
| New Brunswick (NB) | $37.92 | $38.17 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) | $38.05 | $38.32 |
| Nova Scotia (NS) | $37.42 | $37.79 |
| Ontario (ON) | $41.51 | $41.83 |
| Prince Edward Island (PE) | $36.91 | $37.23 |
| Quebec (QC) | $37.81 | $38.12 |
| Saskatchewan (SK) | $39.33 | $39.57 |
| Northwest Territories (NT) | $45.70 | $45.96 |
| Nunavut (NU) | $48.95 | $49.21 |
| Yukon (YT) | $39.68 | $39.94 |
Highest and Most Significant Hourly Wage Increases and Decreases by Province/Territory
Exploring the variations in different provinces and territories allows us to understand the dynamics within regional labor markets. Now let's delve into the top three industries with the highest wage increases and decreases in each province/territory.
| Province | Highest Hourly Wage Increases | Most Significant Hourly Wage Decreases |
| Alberta (AB) | Transportation and Warehousing (+$3.66) – $40.23 to $43.89 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$4.18) – $40.41 to $36.23 |
| Manufacturing (+$3.61) – $45.52 to $49.13 | Finance and Insurance (-$2.22) – $44.50 to $42.28 | |
| Forestry, Logging and Support (+$3.57) – $38.60 to $42.17 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (-$2.04) – $45.50 to $43.46 | |
| British Columbia (BC) | Forestry, Logging and Support (+$3.16) – $40.77 to $43.93 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (-$3.96) – $67.75 to $63.79 |
| Utilities (+$1.95) – $59.98 to $61.93 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$1.53) – $37.08 to $35.55 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$1.61) – $45.74 to $47.35 | Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-$1.18) – $38.51 to $37.33 | |
| Manitoba (MB) | Manufacturing (+$3.52) – $41.06 to $44.58 | Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-$4.98) – $40.47 to $35.49 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.54) – $40.87 to $43.41 | Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$2.37) – $34.38 to $32.01 | |
| Information and Cultural Industries (+$2.52) – $38.13 to $40.65 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (-$1.65) – $33.31 to $31.66 | |
| New Brunswick (NB) | Information and Cultural Industries (+$11.55) – $42.75 to $54.30 | Forestry, Logging and Support (-$8.36) – $41.23 to $32.87 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (+$2.42) – $20.54 to $22.96 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.83) – $35.62 to $34.79 | |
| Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$1.31) – $33.76 to $35.07 | Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$0.73) – $39.76 to $39.03 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) | Manufacturing (+$2.03) – $42.94 to $44.97 | Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$3.89) – $39.12 to $35.23 |
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$1.19) – $33.03 to $34.22 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (-$3.26) – $54.65 to $51.39 | |
| Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$0.99) – $38.84 to $39.83 | Information and Cultural Industries (-$1.68) – $39.04 to $37.36 | |
| Northwest Territories (NWT) | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$10.05) – $57.08 to $67.13 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$5.51) – $34.07 to $28.56 |
| Healthcare and Social Assistance (+$7.08) – $51.45 to $58.53 | Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$4.41) – $52.42 to $48.01 | |
| Construction (+$6.54) – $51.67 to $58.21 | Accommodation and Food Services (-$0.99) – $26.58 to $25.89 | |
| Nova Scotia (NS) | Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.19) – $41.21 to $43.40 | Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$2.95) – $34.10 to $31.15 |
| Educational Services (+$0.57) – $34.86 to $35.43 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$2.87) – $34.86 to $31.99 | |
| Manufacturing (+$0.22) – $40.18 to $40.40 | Finance and Insurance (-$2.75) – $42.05 to $39.30 | |
| Nunavut (NU) | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (+$2.17) – $41.93 to $44.10 | Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$4.08) – $60.03 to $55.95 |
| Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$1.23) – $42.28 to $43.51 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.04) – $40.96 to $40.92 | |
| Ontario (ON) | Information and Cultural Industries (+$2.34) – $49.05 to $51.39 | Forestry, Logging and Support (-$2.93) – $41.13 to $38.20 |
| Utilities (+$2.31) – $60.96 to $63.27 | Finance and Insurance (-$2.19) – $45.27 to $43.08 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.02) – $46.47 to $48.49 | Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-$2.06) – $35.47 to $33.41 | |
| Prince Edward Island (PEI) | Information and Cultural Industries (+$17.74) – $34.83 to $52.57 | Educational Services (-$3.13) – $36.01 to $32.88 |
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$3.58) – $34.51 to $38.09 | Finance and Insurance (-$2.10) – $38.95 to $36.85 | |
| Healthcare and Social Assistance (+$1.53) – $37.52 to $39.05 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$1.28) – $29.24 to $27.96 | |
| Quebec (QC) | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (+$3.58) – $35.82 to $39.40 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (-$3.79) – $56.21 to $52.42 |
| Utilities (+$3.49) – $65.61 to $69.10 | Forestry, Logging and Support (-$3.03) – $32.81 to $29.78 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$3.15) – $44.16 to $47.31 | Accommodation and Food Services (-$2.06) – $27.74 to $25.68 | |
| Saskatchewan (SK) | Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$3.42) – $31.69 to $35.11 | Finance and Insurance (-$4.72) – $43.48 to $38.76 |
| Transportation and Warehousing (+$1.71) – $38.49 to $40.20 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$4.16) – $40.02 to $35.86 | |
| Manufacturing (+$1.60) – $44.12 to $45.72 | Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$2.53) – $33.80 to $31.27 | |
| Yukon (YU) | Information and Cultural Industries (+$6.09) – $47.71 to $53.80 | Accommodation and Food Services (-$2.60) – $29.25 to $26.65 |
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$1.10) – $38.05 to $39.15 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$2.46) – $37.56 to $35.10 | |
| Construction (-$1.35) – $46.84 to $45.49 |
Average Hourly Wages for Hourly-Paid Employees
Hourly-paid employees also experienced an increase in their average hourly wages across Canada, showcasing continued growth in earnings. The national average hourly wage for these employees rose from $27.89 in January 2023 to $28.06 in February 2023.
Variations by Province/Territory
Analyzing the average hourly wages for hourly-paid employees, broken down by province/territory, further highlights the geographical discrepancies in wage growth. Here's an overview of the changes in average hourly wages for hourly-paid employees between December 2022 and February 2023 across different provinces and territories:
| Province/Territory | Average Hourly Wage (December 2022) | Average Hourly Wage (February 2023) |
| Alberta (AB) | $27.20 | $27.42 |
| British Columbia (BC) | $25.35 | $25.49 |
| Manitoba (MB) | $24.64 | $24.77 |
| New Brunswick (NB) | $25.11 | $25.23 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) | $25.18 | $25.30 |
| Nova Scotia (NS) | $24.93 | $25.06 |
| Ontario (ON) | $26.95 | $27.08 |
| Prince Edward Island (PE) | $24.53 | $24.66 |
| Quebec (QC) | $25.09 | $25.21 |
| Saskatchewan (SK) | $25.97 | $26.09 |
| Northwest Territories (NT) | $30.19 | $30.32 |
| Nunavut (NU) | $32.25 | $32.37 |
| Yukon (YT) | $26.05 | $26.17 |
Highest and Most Significant Hourly Wage Increases and Decreases by Province/Territory
Exploring the variations in different provinces and territories allows us to understand the dynamics within regional labor markets. Now let's delve into the top three industries with the highest wage increases and decreases in each province/territory.
| Province | Highest Hourly Wage Increases | Most Significant Hourly Wage Decreases |
| Alberta (AB) | Forestry, Logging and Support (+$3.16) – $40.77 to $43.93 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$1.53) – $37.08 to $35.55 |
| Information and Cultural Industries (+$1.95) – $59.98 to $61.93 | Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$7.08) – $51.45 to $58.53 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$1.61) – $45.74 to $47.35 | Finance and Insurance (-$3.72) – $23.85 to $27.57 | |
| British Columbia (BC) | Utilities (+$5.22) – $44.68 to $49.90 | Finance and Insurance (-$0.69) – $34.96 to $34.27 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$1.92) – $46.90 to $48.82 | Educational Services (-$0.65) – $23.83 to $23.18 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$1.90) – $36.91 to $38.81 | Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$0.19) – $27.78 to $27.59 | |
| Manitoba (MB) | Manufacturing (+$0.87) – $29.21 to $30.08 | Information and Cultural Industries (-$7.57) – $40.93 to $33.36 |
| Construction (+$0.78) – $33.35 to $34.13 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.86) – $30.73 to $29.87 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$0.60) – $33.25 to $33.85 | Educational Services (-$0.49) – $22.11 to $21.62 | |
| New Brunswick (NB) | Transportation and Warehousing (+$1.36) – $27.11 to $28.47 | Information and Cultural Industries (-$15.79) – $47.57 to $31.78 |
| Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$1.31) – $22.43 to $23.74 | Manufacturing (-$0.38) – $27.21 to $26.83 | |
| Other Services – excluding Public Administration (+$0.30) – $24.08 to $24.38 | Accommodation and Food Services (-$0.32) – $16.72 to $16.40 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) | Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.78) – $38.12 to $40.90 | Information and Cultural Industries (-$13.20) – $37.26 to $24.06 |
| Construction (+$1.73) – $35.52 to $37.25 | Manufacturing (-$1.50) – $30.76 to $29.26 | |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$1.25) – $44.77 to $46.02 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$0.93) – $25.13 to $24.20 | |
| Northwest Territories (NWT) | Construction (+$1.64) – $40.32 to $41.96 | Educational Services (-$0.22) – $22.09 to $21.87 |
| Healthcare and Social Assistance (+$1.61) – $38.31 to $39.92 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.18) – $35.10 to $34.92 | |
| Accommodation and Food Services (+$1.13) – $19.91 to $21.04 | ||
| Nova Scotia (NS) | Finance and Insurance (+$10.27) – $11.70 to $21.97 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$1.18) – $22.37 to $21.19 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$1.35) – $30.73 to $32.08 | Educational Services (-$0.39) – $22.22 to $21.83 | |
| Transportation and Warehousing (+$1.06) – $28.70 to $29.76 | Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$0.16) – $30.02 to $29.86 | |
| Nunavut (NU) | Transportation and Warehousing (+$1.04) – $30.69 to $31.73 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$0.71) – $28.91 to $28.20 |
| Construction (+$0.94) – $38.92 to $39.86 | ||
| Accommodation and Food Services (+$0.58) – $23.72 to $24.30 | ||
| Ontario (ON) | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$4.63) – $41.92 to $46.55 | Manufacturing (-$1.04) – $31.27 to $30.23 |
| Information and Cultural Industries (+$3.82) – $34.45 to $38.27 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.52) – $29.39 to $28.87 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.03) – $34.46 to $36.49 | Forestry, Logging and Support (-$0.46) – $32.09 to $31.63 | |
| Prince Edward Island (PEI) | Information and Cultural Industries (+$3.08) – $30.46 to $33.54 | Educational Services (-$1.56) – $23.43 to $21.87 |
| Construction (+$0.61) – $27.78 to $28.39 | Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$0.18) – $24.21 to $24.03 | |
| Healthcare and Social Assistance (+$0.33) – $30.08 to $30.41 | Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$0.17) – $19.96 to $19.79 | |
| Quebec (QC) | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$12.38) – $40.27 to $52.65 | Information and Cultural Industries (-$6.05) – $39.92 to $33.87 |
| Other Services – excluding Public Administration (+$1.05) – $26.01 to $27.06 | Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-$0.88) – $24.93 to $24.05 | |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (+$0.90) – $24.09 to $24.99 | Manufacturing (-$0.81) – $31.35 to $30.54 | |
| Saskatchewan (SK) | Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$3.79) – $20.94 to $24.73 | Information and Cultural Industries (-$4.28) – $33.66 to $29.38 |
| Finance and Insurance (+$3.72) – $23.85 to $27.57 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$1.94) – $33.26 to $31.32 | |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$1.83) – $44.12 to $45.95 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (-$1.12) – $30.06 to $28.94 | |
| Yukon (YU) | Information and Cultural Industries (+$4.89) – $32.31 to $37.20 | Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.33) – $35.93 to $35.60 |
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$1.97) – $24.77 to $26.74 | Construction (-$0.30) – $37.46 to $37.16 | |
| Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$1.39) – $23.54 to $24.93 |
The continuous growth in average hourly wages for both salaried and hourly-paid workers in Canada reflects a positive economic outlook. Despite regional variations, the overall trend showcases increased earning potential across various industries. These wage increases signify an improved financial landscape for workers, highlighting the ongoing efforts to strengthen Canada's labor market and support the well-being of its workforce. As the upward trajectory continues, Canadian workers can look forward to a brighter future with enhanced earning opportunities.
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