Canadians’ average weekly earnings rose 3.5 per cent to $1,333.23 in March compared to the same month last year, according to new Statistics Canada data.
The data, published last week, is seasonally adjusted and is based on an average for all employees, including overtime pay. The figures represent gross taxable payroll before deductions.
Which industries had the highest averages?
These were some industries with the highest average weekly earnings, including overtime, for March 2026:
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas industry: $2,509.13
- Utilities: $2,329.80
- Information and cultural industries: $2,025.50
- Professional, scientific and technical services: $1,943.22
- Management of companies and enterprises: $1,820.13
- Finance and insurance: $1,758.96
In contrast, those who work in accommodation and food services earned the lowest amount -- $538.98 on average each week -- during the same month.
Those who worked in the utilities sector saw the highest percentage increase at 9.6 per cent from March 2025 to March 2026.
The earnings data is based on gross payroll before source deductions. The figures are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.
Which provinces and territories have the highest averages?
The data for the highest weekly averages for March 2026 was also broken down by province and territory. According to StatCan, the provinces rank as follows:
1. Nunavut: average weekly earnings of $1,874.95
2. Northwest Territories: $1,741.07
3. Yukon: $1,520.39
4. Alberta: $1,371.07
5. Ontario: $1,368.71
6. British Columbia: $1,348.36
7. Newfoundland and Labrador: $1,290.53
8. Saskatchewan: $1,288.82
9. Quebec: $1,283.60
10. New Brunswick: $1,231.77
11. Manitoba: $1,214.49
12. Nova Scotia: $1,210.83
13. Prince Edward Island: $1,177.97
Who’s hiring?
While there were more job openings in three sectors, the number declined in two of them in March.
Job vacancies rose 17.7 per cent in administrative and support, waste management and remediation services in March.
For information and cultural industries, the number was up 38.2 per cent and for utilities it rose 28.4 per cent.
However, vacancies fell in other services, except public administration, by 14.6 per cent, as well as arts, entertainment and recreation by 18.2 per cent in March 2026.
Job vacancy rates in March were the highest in Yukon at 4.8 per cent and Prince Edward Island at 3.5 per cent. The lowest rates were in Newfoundland and Labrador at 2.3 per cent and Ontario at 2.5 per cent.
