Source: The Canadian Press

September’s average weekly earnings among non-farm payroll employees were up 4.3% from a year earlier, to $864.13.

Statistics Canada reports it was the second straight month with year-over-year growth over 4%.

The agency attributed some of the growth to a 0.9% increase in the number of hours worked per week.

It says the remainder of the increase is attributable to several other factors, including changes in the composition of employment by industry, changes in occupations within industry, job experience and wage growth.

The pace of growth in earnings has been increasing in recent months.

StatsCan reports September was the sixth straight month in which the year-over-year increase surpassed 3%, while year-over-year growth was under 2% for most of 2009.

Average weekly earnings increased in most provinces. It was above the national average in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec

Year-over-year growth was slowest in Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, while earnings declined slightly in New Brunswick.