The Canadian Press

Total hours worked by payroll employees increased by 0.3% in January while non-farm payroll employment was virtually unchanged.

Statistics Canada reports January’s most notable job gains were in mining, quarrying, oil-and-gas extraction; construction; finance; transportation and warehousing, and health care.

The agency says the gains were offset by losses primarily in the service sector, with the largest declines in public administration; arts, entertainment and recreation; educational services and “other services.”

Payroll employment in the construction sector increased by 2,500.

Payroll employment in finance industries has continued on an upward trend, increasing by 15,700, or 2.3%, since last August.

In employment services, which includes placement agencies, temporary services and human resource management services, payroll employment has increased by 4,100 since August.

Payroll employment also rose by 3,500 during this time in services to buildings and dwellings.

There has been a gradual increase of 4,800 payroll jobs in support activities for mining and oil-and-gas extraction since last August.

Payroll employment in health care increased by 1,600 in January and payroll employment in the sector has risen by 36,700, or 2.8%.

There was virtually no change in payroll employment in manufacturing in January.

Payroll employment levels have remained stable in motor vehicle assembly, motor vehicle parts as well as body and trailer manufacturing since August 2009.

Manufacturing industries suffering notable declines in payroll employment since August 2009 include: meat product; pulp, paper and paperboard mills; and printing and related support activities.

During the same period, manufacturing industries with notable gains in employment include: seafood product preparation and packaging; beverage; petroleum and coal product; and plastic product manufacturing.

Average weekly earnings including overtime of payroll employees rose to $834.47 in January, up 2.1% from January 2009.

Among Canada’s largest industrial sectors, average weekly earnings rose in educational services (up 5.3%); public administration (4.6); health care and social assistance (4.1); accommodation and food services (4.0); and manufacturing (2.6).

During the same 12-month period, average weekly earnings fell 1.5% in retail trade and 0.4 in construction.