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Home : Top Stories : Alberta's weekly wages highest in Canada

Alberta's weekly wages highest in Canada

A pickup truck passes a mining shovel at an oil sands mine near Fort McMurray, Alta., in this July 9, 2008 photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh The anticipated $5.5 billion Enbridge Inc. project would result in a 1,177-kilometre twin pipeline carrying crude oil from Alberta to an oil tanker port in Kitimat, B.C., for eventual export to Asia.
A pickup truck passes a mining shovel at an oil sands mine near Fort McMurray, Alta., in this July 9, 2008 photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

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Date: Saturday Jan. 28, 2012 2:45 PM ET

Alberta workers had the highest weekly earnings in the country in November, while Ontario showed the weakest wage growth in the last year, Statistics Canada says.

The average weekly non-farm wage in Alberta was $1,052.53 in November, up five per cent from the same time last year.

During the same period, Ontario's wages grew a mere 0.5 per cent to $898.63, according to data released Thursday.

Newfoundland and Labrador showed the strongest growth in wages, up 5.7 per cent to $898.95.

Higher wages in Alberta are attributed to the lucrative oil and gas industry, as well as labour shortages prior to 2007.

Meanwhile, Canada's average weekly wage was $883.96 in November, virtually unchanged from October, but up 2.2 per cent from November 2010's average of $865.05.

Average weekly wage increases in the last year for Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and British Columbia were 5.1 per cent to $904.42, 4.6 per cent to $803.99 and 3.2 per cent to $849.99 respectively.

Prince Edward Island had the lowest overall pay at $740.84, up 1.6 per cent during the same time period.

Year-over-year wage growth beat the national average in four of the country's largest industrial sectors: administrative and support services; retail trade; professional, scientific and technical services and manufacturing.

Non-farm employment increased by 12,300 from October to November, with retail, construction, manufacturing, mining, health care and social assistance showing the most gains.

The number of workers increased 1.7 per cent, or 247,700 since November 2010, StatsCan said.

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Greg Orbman
said

Amazed by the claims, below, that a Conservative government is responsible for higher incomes in oil rich Alberta. By this logic Alberta would do better if it had the Governments of the Northwest Territories, or oil rich Norway and many Arab nations, all of which have higher GDP per capita than Alberta. Also, perhaps stop crying about Albertas transfer payments since eastern Canada subsidized all Prairie Provinces more than a century. All nations with a federal system of government have some form of transfer payments. In the United States the federal governments spends less in high income states than federal taxes paid by that State. For example, the federal government of the USA spends in New York State only 80% of the taxes raised in New York State. The good thing about the Canadian system is that transfers are negotiated by the provinces with the federal government.


Are you kidding
said

I have a hard time believing that the most Canadians earn a weekly wage of 800.00 plus a week. I am 51 and my husband is 54 and we are considered over the hill. No one will hire us for a decent wage, we can only earn 11 dollars an hour. We still have a young teenage son who we are reponsible, and cannot offer him a proper upbring because we are seen as told old. We both are university educated with skills but because we are over 45 we are considered to old. So ask most fifty year olds who have been downsized they do not earn anymore than minimum wage. It is sad because I am not even considered unemployed because I no longer can collect benefits. So how do I raise my son in this kind of enviroment?


Hilton Shand
said

@Island Girl. The average income earner is keeping up with inflation. However, average income is skewed upwards by the wealthy. You need to look at Median Income (50% of the population) to estimate how well the typical income earner is doing. Unemployment is high, this reduces Median income and undermines Consumer Spending; and also high unemployment obviously costs more in EI claims and social security spending which contributes to government deficit.


outwest
said

If the exorbitant oil wages were excluded, Alberta would fall behind most other provinces, because the rest of us who have regular jobs can be absolutely thrilled if we make anywhere near $20 per hour, let alone those at minimum wage which is the 2nd lowest in the country (YT is lower). At the same time everything is more expensive here, from groceries to housing, even in non-oil cities like Edmonton or Calgary. As for the "university degrees don't want oil jobs": No point in going studying and then throwing it all away, might as well not go to university then and save the cash, no? So those who gloat what champs we are in AB, anyone not in oil jobs, and that's countrywide, gets hosed by the oil companies.


ouifyg
said

Alberta has an oil boom, and now we have readers from Alberta posting about how Ontarians all owe their jobs to the boom in the west. Guess what? Ontarios GDP last year was 3 times that of Alberta. Ontario doesn't need a giant oil patch to survive off of, we don't depend on gathering resources for our jobs. You have a growing economy, and that's great for you in Alberta and for us in Ontario too, but this attitude that Ontario or "the east" owes you something is ridiculous.


island girl
said

so I'm confused... all the media reporting how aweful the economy is doing, and yet the average wage was still able to increase.... maybe only a little in Ontario.. but still an increase.....and for the comment that you can't afford a house on over 50,000 a year....I'm reading that as average per worker. .. so a couple together at $100,000 a year.. and you can't afford a house... maybe stop trying to keep up with the jones


Just Saying - Ottawa
said

So Niagara George so you think it is fine for this McGuinty Liberal Ontario Government to send $50 Million of our Ontario Taxpayers Dollars to Winnipeg for a Human Rights Museum..what about my "rights" and many others here in Ontario as Ontario Taxpayers..there is no way there will be that many children going to see this Museum..no way. Dig your head out of the sand.


Jeri Wolf
said

I wish I was average! I live in Alberta and a very small percentage of the population actually meets the average. The rest of us (the majority) struggle to make ends meet on sub-par wages.


Just Saying - Ottawa
said

To those complaining about the West especially the one who says he is from Quebec..if it wasn't for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland/Laborador who are keeping this country going and where do you as a Quebecer think the money comes from for your "have not province". Anyone who wants to work and pull up stake should head West instead of staying on EI. if it's possible, otherwise do not complain.


Perry
said

@Jeremy - Too funny! Now Stephen Harper is responsible for PEI's limited natural resources. You PC haters are hilarious!


MamaV
said

@ From AB: Your ignorance is laughable and I feel sorry for you.


Perry
said

@Niagara George - I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking how much of the taxes on salaries goes to supporting Canada's First Peoples, or if the job opportunities are available to them? I assure you, that all able bodied, responsible & ambitious people can find gainful employment & opportunities in many different Alberta communities, regardless of race, color, creed, sex or heritage.


Ken in Southern Alberta
said

Proud to be Albertan! So happy I don't have to leave my beautiful proince. Wouldn't move to Ontario if you paid me all the money in the world.


Ann in Calgary
said

Well, it sure isn't me. My two jobs don't even yield half the "average" so that means SOMEbody's making a whole lot more than the rest of us.


Mar
said

@From AB living in SW Ontario: Really? My friends who work in the oil patch would be very shocked to hear you bash them in this manner as they are educated, not criminals, and work up there for the money. Many sites are dry as well (meaning no drugs, alcohol etc where people are regularly tested). These "criminals" you speak of are generally 18-20 yr olds who are living alone for the first time making tons of money so they spend it on what many would call stupid things, like drugs, prostitutes etc. But these are not career criminals, simply younger people with too much money that get themselves into trouble. To say Northern Alberta is crawling with violent criminals is ridiculous and completely untrue. Criminals exist everywhere, so yes, there are some, but they are no where near the majority, and no different than anywhere else in Canada.


evelyn
said

The posting by the person who says all the good jobs are in the far north,or isolated areas, where the men are criminals, driving up the murder rates, blah, blah, blah, give your head a shake. I've never read such a negative posting! We work oilpatch, and we make exceedingly good money. Neither are we criminals, drug abusers, consorters of prostitutes, and all the other negative tripe you added. Most of the people whom we know, and who also work in the oilpatch, are as family oriented, and community minded as any other souls in this country. Some people do indeed work away from home, but that does mean that they are running with the criminal elements. When you attempt to throw everyone in the mixing bowl and label oil patch workers as people of questionable morals, you insult the majority of us. I


Susie-Q Mtl.
said

I'm 61. If i were 30 or 20 years younger i would be heading out west for a job. Alberta here i come. First i would check out what is available for me. First you need the job. Then comes the move. I used to work as a live out domestic. I also went to Business college in 1967 & 68 where i took typing courses. I wish i were younger. Oh well . Good luck to all who can still work. Alberta or bust.


Ottawa Jack
said

Can we send Dalton McGuinty & his Ontario Liberals out to Alberta to learn a few economic lessons ? Fom the 'have not ' province of Ontario


Zack
said

why does it seems like one part of Canada always seems to blast the rest.The West hates the East, The East hates the west, and Alantic Canada just wants to be heard.Were one Country.. from Alantic to Pacific and we should be damn proud of all the other provinces! (Yes even one's were not from!) They're what make us so special.The part I'm still laughing at is that Ontario and Newfoundland are basicly tied.. Bet that makes them feel good... And BC is below them both..


Brian
said

Are these salary averages before or after taxes??


vive le quebec
said

@jrayi. i could not agree with you anymore. it is time we keep you westerners away from the east. when your oil dries up you could live off your flat lands and oh sooo boring lifestyle. kiddy up cowboys.


Healthcare Worker
said

Healthcare workers are still not at market value rates and some of us have not had an increase in over 2 years. Not even a cost of living raise! And they wonder why all the doctors and nurses go to the US. We frontline stiffs don't have that option. Come on, AHS, give us a decent raise!


rmsbl4
said

Is it just me but isn't the first paragraph comparinng apples to oranges.Alberta by the month Ontario by the year.


Gino
said

Wow ! What's with all the finger pointing? We against them ?
You live where you live, you do the job you do, never mind the bullshit !
"we albertans work hard"? ...what the hell?? most people work hard ! Be it miners,loggers,fishers,office people,factory workers,teachers,bakers !!!..what a bunch of bullshit comments!
And yeah..i'm an Albertan in the mining industry!!!!!!!



David
said

I work at home, managing work at home employees for a global company. I could live anywhere. I choose to live in the Maritimes.


Prof. Pye Chartt
said

@ Niagara George: I'm sure it's just "bad luck" on the part of Liberal Premier McGuinty, but, if you graphically overlay the sharp-turn decline in Ontario's share of Canadian GDP, it happens to coincide perfectly with the start and duration of his tenure (2003-Present).


Gary D.
said

....I worked up there for four year's,....it's not what you make!.....It's how much you get to keep!2 year's ago,...2 bedroom apartment in Fort McMurray....$2,600 a month.....Ouch!...And there are no rent contol's.Look before you leap!


Amber
said

Thats great to hear for your girlfriend "C" but unfortunately I cannot be a medic as the sight of gore makes me sick and cannot live out of a motel due to commitments at home, so I guess those of us forced to work a monday to friday office job behind the scenes of the oilfield are stuck making less then half of what the average is...*sigh* :(


jrayj
said

Wow those back East liberals sure do show their ignorance towards this country, if it wasn't for the west they would all starve, and if it wasn't for the west they wouldn't have a Job so cut the crying, and one comment is right here cut off the border between Manitoba and Ontario and leave us westerners alone.


Kow town Karl
said

Hey Big Bob, BC and Sask have an abundance of natural resources as well. Their governments just didn't (don't) pursue the opportunities like forward thinking Albertans.


Disappointed
said

Perhaps the Maritime provinces would be just as well off as Alberta if OUR gov't leaders didn't sell us short. I am saddened and disappointed that our children, siblings, spouses find it necessary to leave our province(NS),leave families for extended periods just to earn a living that is unattainable here.. We do have the resources and the workforce to support it. They way I see it is we have been shafted.


Brent
said

Big surprise here, the numbers are being skewed by all of the massive salaries in the oil and gas sector that are completely out-of-touch with every other industry. We're all being gouged at the pump to support these high rollers.


Sabu
said

Better Live in Ontario, and Work in Alberta!!!!


Will
said

Sure jeremy, whine about this being Harper's fault instead of your choices. Try taking some responsibility for yourself.


LH
said

@J, those with more education could make those wages too, they just don't want to do those jobs, despite the wages many with university degrees feel these jobs are beneath them. They want the comfy office jobs in the city instead, yet complain their wages aren't high enough. Also, a big reason the wages are high, aside from having to work up north away from home, is that there is a labour shortage so the wages have to be high to attract people to move. There were job postings here all through the recession, and still are, if people want these jobs, move out here. Instead, people don't want to move, or don't want to do the jobs, so we hire immigrants instead. Also, this has nothing to do with Harper, this has to do with Alberta having a booming industry, and this industry helps benefit all of Canada.


long live quebec
said

@ western canada. i thought you guys didn't like seperatists out there, i guess more doubletalking drivel coming from cow town


Fred in the Patch
said

I work in the oilpatch and we are starting to hear talk about companies bringing in workers from Mexico and the phillipines at 1/3-1/2 the cost of what a regular rigger makes.....arguement is more production at less or equal cost...I guess its a business decision but I think eventually it would hurt guys like me out here and slowly bring salaries down.


CC.
said

@Amber: My girlfriend just got a job as an oilfield medic and she makes that salary in 3 days. I am acctualy surprised the average weekly pay is that low. However, she does have to drive far for work and live out of a motel most of the time.


Whats my name? BRIAN!
said

you still cant afford an average house price on that wage!


Jeremy
said

Well Duh. If PEI had the freakin natural resources Alberta has, we would be swimming in it too. Bad enough 1/2 of PEI has to go out there just to earn a decent wage. That is Stephen Harper for you. Canada ends in Quebec.


J
said

It's a sad state of affairs when we allow highschool dropouts in the oilfield such high wages.


Steveo
said

GO ALBERTA! To all you panhandlers, keep your hands to yourself!


Niagara George
said

I wonder how many of those high Alberta wages go to Canada's First Peoples. For all you McGuinty haters... be sure to notice Ontario is still above the Canadian average.


Amber
said

Umm...weekly? That amount is my salary for two weeks, exactly actually....I'd like to know where I can find a job that pays that much! I say this is about as false as the apparent decreasing food prices shown by stats canada...


Marisha
said

We Albertans, work hard for our money. Alot of sacrifices for that higher wage just to get ahead. Those in the oil industry spend alot of time away from their families so they are being compensated with a higher wage.


Canadian Immigrant - Calgary
said

Average - What is highest & What is the Lowest. Wages in Calgary & Edmonton can not be compared to Fort Mac where the the wages are highest. Statistically what would be more interesting and revealing are the figures from Stat Cdn. 2010 and 2009 of earnings grouped in 3 levels - A) 0 - 40,000.00, B) 40,001.00 - 90,000.00 & C) 90,001.00 - 175,000.00 and the % of these groups to the total returns filed. To add a twist to it - break it down by provinces - thank you


rat-ripper
said

My daughter and her boyfriend left Peterborough and went to Fort McMurray just before Christmas. They are both working and doing fine !


Western Canada
said

Why do they have to publish this? Now that scab of a province Ontario is going to try and grab more money from us out west and the scrub citizens will want to move here. Block Western Canada couldn't happen soon enough.


Big Bob in Ottawa
said

Of course Alberta has the highest wages, they have the natural resource sector that all the other provinces don't. No one province is as blessed with energy and mineral resources like Alberta. It's not the government of the day that should be congratulated though because they can only promote jobs in the oil patch so far. You move 13 million Ontarians to Alberta and you've got a disaster. Ontario with 13 million people is going to be a much more diverse economy and much less well compensated in general because of it.


Intelligent Liberaldkdkkdiiee@hotmail.com
said

Alberta has strongest wage growth while Ontario has the weakest. Alberta has a Conservative government, Ontario is Liberal. This proves that Liberals are more fiscally responsible -- by controlling the cost of labour much better than the right -wing western fringe gun toting Ford half ton hillbillies.


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