Montréal, May 3, 2021. – In 2020, the Québec labour market was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: 275,000 payroll jobs paid less than $20 an hour were lost. At the same time, 105,000 jobs paid 30$ an hour or more were added. These are the main findings from an article entitled Les changements dans l’emploi salarié selon le niveau de rémunération horaire en période de pandémie made public today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec, following the release of final 2020 data from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada.
Women registered both greater job losses and gains than men
Between 2019 and 2020, women lost twice as many jobs paid less than $20 an hour as men (-183,000 vs. -90,000). The decline was about 25% for female workers and 15% for male workers.
However, women experienced a greater increase in the number of jobs paid $30 an hour or more (+67,000) than men (+38,000). Job growth as a percentage was two and a half times higher among women than men (13.0% vs. 5.4%) for these jobs.
Change in the number of jobs paid less than $20 an hour and jobs paid $30 an hour or more, 2019-2020, Québec
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, 2020. Adapted by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Which groups were most affected by the loss of jobs paid less than $20 an hour?
- 25–44 year-olds (-108,200 jobs): As a percentage, they lost more jobs than other age groups. They accounted for about 40% of the total decline in the number of jobs paid less than $20 an hour.
- People who have been employed for less than a year (-129,000 jobs): Proportionally, they lost more jobs than people with more years of seniority. They accounted for nearly 50% of the overall decline in the number of jobs in this hourly wage range.
- People working in the trade, accommodation and food services and manufacturing industries (-140,000 jobs): They accounted for over half of the decline in the number of jobs paid less than $20 an hour in all industries.
Which groups benefited the most from the creation of jobs paid $30 an hour or more?
- People with at least a bachelor’s degree (+77,000 jobs): They accounted for 75% of overall growth in the number of jobs in this category. They contributed to the increase in a much larger proportion than their share of these jobs in 2019 (50%).
- Immigrants who have been in Québec for more than 10 years (+28,000 jobs): They accounted for about 25% of the overall increase. They only held 10% of jobs in this category in 2019.
- Non-unionized workers (+79,000 jobs): They accounted for 75% of the overall growth in the number of jobs paid 30$ an hour or more, while they held about 50% of these jobs in 2019.
- People working in the finance, insurance, real estate and leasing industries and in professional, scientific and technical services (+39,000 jobs): They contributed to nearly 40% of the overall increase in the number of jobs paid $30 an hour or more observed in 2020.
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.