The Province of British Columbia has experienced the lowest economic growth in the country, with an earnings increase of only 1.2 per cent in March.
According to Statistics Canada, the limited growth is most likely attributed to a decline in employees in the high-earning mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry.
Earning declines in health care and social assistance were also to blame for B.C.’s low economic growth.
On a national scale, the average weekly earnings were $954 in March, which represents little change from the $951 the previous month. Compared to 2014 statistics, the national average increased by 2.8 per cent.
The 2.8 per cent 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 per week.
For the past two years, three industrial sectors have outpaced national average earnings. With a 9.8 per cent earnings increase, wholesale trade is leading the way across the country, followed closely by professional, scientific, and technical services, as well as manufacturing. The construction industry landed in the negative zone for March, 2015.
Claiming the top financial earnings in the country, New Brunswick's average earnings increased by 4.4 per cent to $855.
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