Canadians should get slighter bigger pay checks next year

Pay checks for non-unionized Canadian workers should grow slightly more in 2019 than they did this year.

A new report from the Conference Board of Canada forecasts an average 2.6% year-over-year increase in wages next year, up from 2.4% in 2018.

Those working in the food, beverage, and tobacco products industry should lead the wage increases with a 3% gain, with oil, gas, and technology industry workers not far behind at 2.9%.

However, those in the health sector will see a well-below-average rise in their pay check at just 1.6% year-over-year.

“Over the past few years, we have seen wage increases among the lowest they have been in the past two decades. We are now seeing an improvement and compensation planners are looking to offer increases in 2019 that remain ahead of inflation,” said Allison Cowan, Director, Total Rewards, HR and Labour Relations Research, The Conference Board of Canada.

Provincial gains
Of the provinces, Saskatchewan will lead with an average wage rise of 2.9%, followed by Quebec (2.7%), BC, Alberta, and the Atlantic Provinces (2.6%), Ontario (2.5%), and Manitoba (2.3%).

The Compensation Planning Report 2019 also reveals that the professions in highest demand continue to be IT specialists, skilled trades, management, and engineering. Sales and marketing now round out the top five with the demand for accounting/finance specialists decreasing.