Canada Weekly Earnings Growth Accelerates in March

Average weekly earnings for Canadian non-farm payroll employees rose 3.5% year-on-year to C$1,333 in March 2026, up from a 2.8% gain in February. The largest increases were in utilities (9%), information and cultural industries (7%), and transportation and warehousing (6.2%). In contrast, earnings declined in forestry, logging and support activities (-2.4%), management of companies and enterprises (-0.8%), and real estate and rental and leasing (-9.2%).

By province, the strongest growth in average weekly earnings was recorded in Nunavut (7.8%), Prince Edward Island (7.7%), and New Brunswick (6.7%). Average weekly hours worked were 33.4, essentially unchanged from the previous month and 0.3% lower than a year earlier.