Accomodation and food services, construction, retail trade and public administration all saw year over year growth above the national average. For example, average weekly earnings in accommodation and food services totalled $372 in October 2012, up 5.8 per cent from the same month last year.
“More money in worker’s pockets means more money to spend in the market place”, Economy Minister Bill Boyd said.
But Economist Erin Weir noted that Saskatchewan lagged the Canadian average in earnings growth on a month to month basis. “Between September and October average weekly earnings rose by $4.90 in Saskatchewan compared to $7.80 nationally” , Weir said.
On a year over year basis, earnings were up 2.8%. That reflected a number of factors, including wage growth and changes in the composition of employment by industry as well as the average number of hours worked.
