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VICTORIA – B.C. leads the country in job creation and a larger proportion of British Columbians are making $16 or more per hour than in any other province, Labour Minister Graham Bruce said today.
Bruce pointed out that nearly one million employees in this province earn $16 or more per hour – the amount Statistics Canada says will support a family of four in an urban centre. This represents 57.2 per cent of B.C. employees, compared to the Canadian average of 50.8 percent. In Alberta, just under 50 per cent of employees receive $16 or more per hour worked.
Bruce also noted that since Dec. 2001, employment in B. C. has increased by 7.3 percent – the largest percentage increase in the country. “The numbers speak for themselves. We have the best performing economy in Canada when it comes to creating good jobs.
“We also have stability in labour relations and that bodes well for the economy,” said Bruce. “In the public sector since January, 2002, a total of 51 voluntary agreements have been reached. All were at no general compensation increase and some at wage reductions, a significant milestone that demonstrates negotiation, not confrontation, can yield mutually agreeable results.”
In May, more than two million British Columbians were working, including 1.6 million employees, and 400,000 self-employed. Total employment in British Columbia has remained above the two million mark for the past sixteen months.
Paid employees earning $16 per hour or more/Overall Employment Growth:
Percentage of employees receiving 2003 2000
B.C. 57.2 53.9 Alberta 49.4 43.7 Saskatchewan 43.7 36.2 Manitoba 40.9 37.6 Ontario 54.7 49.5 Quebec 48.0 42.0 New Brunswick 34.2 31.8 Nova Scotia 37.4 32.3 PEI 33.1 23.4 NFL 39.0 32.8 Canada 50.8 45.6
Overall Employment Growth Dec. 2001 to May 2004 B.C. 7.4 per cent Alberta 7.1 per cent Saskatchewan 5.5 per cent Manitoba 2.1 per cent Ontario 6.0 per cent Quebec 6.2 per cent New Brunswick 4.7 per cent Nova Scotia 5.4 per cent PEI 4.1 per cent NFL 3.3 per cent Canada 6.1 per cent
Source: Statistics Canada - The Labour Force Survey
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