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For the first time ever, Saskatchewan workers are averaging slightly more than $1,000 in weekly earnings.
According to Statistics Canada numbers released Thursday, weekly earnings for non-farm payroll employees climbed to an average of $1,010.37 in December 2016.
That’s up 1.8 per cent over the previous year and puts the province’s workers at the third-highest earning rate in Canada.
“Saskatchewan people are taking home more money at the end of the week, and this is a reflection on our economy and the opportunities in our province,” said Economy Minister Jeremy Harrison in a news release. “The increased earnings show our wages are very competitive, and this remains an attraction for skilled workers to our province.”
Statistics Canada pointed to manufacturing, educational services, health care, social assistance, finance and insurance as contributing the most to the increases.
The median — the middle value — for Saskatchewan earnings worked out to $1063.12 weekly.
Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia also saw weekly earnings increase. Earnings fell in Alberta and Nova Scotia. Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador saw little change.
The national average for weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees is $971.
