Although economic prospects look stagnant, businesses are expecting a slight increase in salaries in 2013, according to the Conference Board of Canada. Not surprisingly, the biggest increases will take place in Alberta.
If the latest “Compensation Planning Outlook” survey from the Conference Board of Canada is to be believed, conducted with more than 400 employers, the average salary should rise by 3% among non-unionised employees. Once again, employers in Alberta and Saskatchewan expect the highest increases, with respective increases of 3.8% and 3.7%. At the bottom of the table is Ontario, with an average salary increase of 2.7%. Among the sectors that are predicting the highest increases in 2013 are oil and gas which will be the most generous (+4.2%) followed by the natural resources sector, other than oil and gas (+3.6%).
Smaller increases for unionised employees
In the private sector, increases are anticipated at 3.1%, or somewhat ahead of last year (3%). The public sector meanwhile expects an increase of 2.8%. However, unionised employees should see an increase of 2%, slightly below the salary increases seen in contracts negotiated in 2012.
