BC Canadian employers forecast modest salary increases in 2017

Organisations across British Columbia are expecting to increase salaries by an average of 2.5 per cent in 2017, according to a Conference Board of Canada report.

This increase is higher than the average raise given in 2016, in which it is estimated salaries increased 2.2 per cent.

Across Canada, employers say they plan to increase wages by 2.2 per cent next year, up from growth of 2.1 per cent in 2016. The highest increase is expected to be in Manitoba (up 2.7 per cent), followed by B.C. and Quebec, tied at 2.5 per cent. Alberta, hit by a massive turndown in energy prices over the past couple years and dealing with the aftermath of wildfires in the Fort McMurray area in May, is expected to have the lowest increase at 1.4 per cent.

The industries with the highest anticipated salary growth, nationwide, are the high-tech sector (2.8 per cent), food, beverage and tobacco (2.4 per cent) and finance, insurance and real estate (2.7 per cent).

Oil and gas (1.1 per cent), utilities (1.4 per cent) and health (1.6 per cent) are forecast to have the smallest salary increases.