Montréal, November 30, 2023. – The report Rémunération des salariés – État et évolution comparés 2023 made public this morning examines compensation for 75 comparable jobs divided into five categories and covering 81,145 Québec government employees. According to this report, the average salary for these 75 jobs is $56,096 in 2023, which is 16.6% lower than the average salary of other Québec employees working in businesses with 200 or more employees. The salaries of Québec government employees are also 14.2% lower than those of private sector employees and 22.0% lower than those of other public sector employees (government enterprises, universities, municipalities, and federal government in Québec).
Salaries of Québec government employees and other Québec employees, including the private sector and other public sectors, 2023, 2022 and 2014
Source : Institut de la statistique du Québec, Rémunération des salariés. État et évolution comparés 2023.
The situation when non-wage benefits, time off, and hours of work are considered
Salaries are only one component of total compensation per hour worked. When pension plans, group insurance, paid time off, and usual weekly hours (basic workweek without overtime) are also taken into account, the total compensation of Québec government employees per hour worked is $45.02. This is 7.4% below that of other Québec employees overall and 22.7% below that of other public sector employees. However, Québec government employees are on par with the private sector in terms of total compensation.
Total compensation per hour worked for Québec government employees and other Québec employees, including the private sector and other public sectors, 2023, 2022 and 2014
Source : Institut de la statistique du Québec, Rémunération des salariés. État et évolution comparés 2023.
Québec government employees are further behind other Québec employees for salaries than for total compensation. This is because Québec government employees have more paid time off (vacation, statutory and floating holidays, sick leave, etc.) and a shorter normal workweek than other Québec employees. In addition, employer costs as a percentage of salaries for non-wage benefits are higher for Québec government employees (28.0%) than for other Québec employees (23.8%).
Differentials larger this year due to expired collective agreements
Between 2022 and 2023, Québec government employees have fallen further behind the three other employee groups in terms of salaries than in terms of total compensation. This is mainly because the collective agreements of Québec government employees expired on March 31, 2023. As a result, there were no increases in salary structures for Québec government employees on April 1, 2023. The differentials presented therefore exclude any employer offers and union demands made as part of the current negotiations.
How the situation has evolved since 2014
Between 2014 and 2023, the salary differentials between Québec government employees and employees in the three other sectors increased. In terms of total compensation, the differentials remained stable in comparison with other Québec employees and the private sector, while they decreased in comparison with the other public sectors.
Comparison of total compensation
The Institut de la statistique du Québec is mandated to compare the total compensation of Québec government employees with that of other Québec employees. It must perform this comparison every year and publish the results at the end of November.
The purpose of this exercise is to compare similar jobs. As a result, teachers and nurses, for example, are excluded from the comparison as they are mainly employed by the Québec government. The comparison covers businesses with 200 or more employees and municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more, because their job structure is similar to that in the Québec government.
The components used in the comparison have been selected to ensure relevance and objectivity and are periodically submitted to the negotiating parties (employer and union) by the Institut for consultation purposes.
Base sector and reference market used in the comparison:
| Québec government | Other Québec employees (businesses with 200 or more employees) |
|---|---|
| Public service: ministries, government bodies, special funds Education Health and social services |
Private businesses “Other public” sector: Government enterprises, universities, municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more, federal government in Québec |
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.