The number of non-farm payroll employees in Alberta was down slightly from February to March but showed a hike of 15,400 positions year over year, according to data released on Thursday by Statistics Canada.

The federal agency said the number of jobs in the province dropped by 400 on a monthly basis.

But Alberta continues to lead all provinces in average weekly earnings at $1,159.15, which in March was 1.6 per cent higher than the previous month and up 0.4 per cent from a year ago.

Nationally, the number of non-farm payroll employees increased by 27,500 from February to March.

“The largest monthly gains were in educational services; professional, scientific and technical services; and health care and social assistance. At the same time, payroll employment declined in manufacturing, administrative and support services, construction and wholesale trade,” said StatsCan.

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“In the 12 months to March, the number of payroll employees rose by 354,900 (+2.1 per cent). Employment increased in almost all sectors, led by health care and social assistance (+70,300 or +3.6 per cent), retail trade (+47,100 or +2.4 per cent) and professional, scientific and technical services (+39,200 or +4.3 per cent). At the same time, payroll employment declined in information and cultural industries (-10,300 or -3.0 per cent) and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (-3,200 or -1.6 per cent).”

Across Canada, average weekly earnings rose by 0.8 per cent to $1,016.41. That was up 1.9 per cent year-over-year.

– Mario Toneguzzi

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