Albertans continue to enjoy the highest average weekly earnings of all provinces in the country.

According to data released today by Statistics Canada, average weekly earnings including overtime for non-farm payroll employees rose in June in the province to $1,003.53. That was up 1.9 per cent from May and by 5.2 per cent from June 2009.

Nationally, between June 2009 and June 2010, the average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees rose by 4.0 per cent to $853.50. This was the fastest year-over-year increase since February 2008. On a monthly basis, it was up 0.7 per cent.

"In recent months, the pace of growth in earnings has increased. June was the seventh consecutive month for which the year-over-year increase was at or above 2.3 per cent. During the previous eight months, year-over-year increases had been below 1.8 per cent," said the federal agency of the national numbers.

Among Canada's largest industrial sectors, growth in average weekly earnings from June 2009 to June 2010 was above the national average of 4.0 per cent in educational services (11.5 per cent), accommodation and food services (11.5 per cent), administration and support, waste management and remediation services (10.0 per cent), retail trade (5.9 per cent), manufacturing (4.1 per cent) and professional, scientific and technical services (4.1 per cent).

Non-farm employment rose in Alberta by 0.2 from May to just over 1.7 million people, up 0.9 per cent from a year ago. Across the country, the monthly increase was 0.1 per cent to just over 14.6 million people, up also 0.9 per cent.

mtoneguzzi@theherald.canwest.com