Average Canadian weekly pay nears $900

Average weekly payroll earnings for Canadians edged up to $896.63 in April, a 3.1 percent gain over a year earlier, Statistics Canada reported Thursday. On a monthly basis, there was a 1 percent gain over March. One of the factors affecting average pay is the number of hours worked per week. In April, non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 33 hours per week, up from 32.9 hours a year earlier. Gains in weekly earnings outpaced the national annual average in wholesale trade, construction and retail trade, StatsCan said. "Average weekly earnings in wholesale trade increased 8.5 percent to $1,096.4," the report said. "In construction, weekly earnings increased 6.9 percent to $1,141.62 in the 12 months to April. "In retail trade, one of the lowest-paid sectors on average, weekly earnings rose 4.4 percent to $531." Average weekly earnings increased in all 10 provinces in the 12 months to April, with the highest growth in Newfoundland/Labrador and the lowest gains in Manitoba and Ontario.