Montréal, November 26, 2020. – Every year, the Institut de la statistique du Québec compares the salaries and total compensation of Québec government employees with those of employees working in businesses with 200 or more employees in Québec.
The 2020 edition of the report Rémunération des salariés – État et évolution comparés reveals that the total compensation of Québec government employees is increasingly lagging behind that of all other employees in Québec: the differential has increased from 6.1% in 2011 to 9.2% in 2020. However, Québec government employees are on par with the private sector in terms of total compensation. This was also the case in 2011.
The calculation of total compensation takes into account salaries, non-wage benefits, and hours at work (normal working hours minus paid time off).
Salaries behind in the Québec government
When only salaries are taken into account, Québec government employees are behind all other Québec employees (-16.5%) and the private sector (-13.3%) in 2020. These gaps have widened since 2011.
|
Compensation differentials between Québec government employees and other Québec employees, the private sector and the “other public” sector between 2020 and 2011 |
||||||||||
| Sector | Total compensation differentials | Salary differentials | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2011 | Position of Québec government employees compared with 2011 |
2020 | 2011 | Position of Québec government employees compared with 2011 |
|||||
| % | % | |||||||||
| Other Québec employees | -9.2 | -6.1 | Weakened | -16.5 | -11.3 | Weakened | ||||
| Private | -0.3 | * | 2.2 | * | Stable | -13.3 | -8.3 | Weakened | ||
| “Other public” sector | -28.3 | -23.0 | Weakened | -23.5 | -17.7 | Weakened | ||||
|
* Indicates that Québec government employees and the sector are on a par. |
||||||||||
Comparison between Québec government employees and other public sector employees
The situation of Québec government employees shows a significant gap when compared with that of employees in other public sectors, which include government enterprises, the federal government in Québec, universities, and municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more. In terms of salaries, Québec government employees are behind other employees in the public sector by 23.5%, while in terms of total compensation, they are behind by 28.3%.
Working conditions improve the situation of Québec government employees
Due to a shorter work week and more paid time off, Québec government employees are in a more favourable position compared to other Québec employees for total compensation (-9.2%) than for salaries (-16.5%) in 2020.
This is because employees in the Québec government (35.8 h) work about two hours less per week than other Québec employees (37.4 h). In addition, paid time off represents a larger expense for the Québec government (16% of the salary) than for the employers of other Québec employees (14.7%).
As for benefit costs for Québec government employees, they amount to 26.3% of their salary, which is higher than the costs paid by the employers of other Québec employees (25.5%) and of private sector employees (22.8%).
Base sector and reference market used for the comparison
| Québec government | Other Québec employees | ||
| (businesses and organizations with 200 or more employees) | |||
| Public service: departments, government bodies, special funds | Private businesses | ||
| Education |
|
||
| Health and social services |
|
||
- Read the report’s main findings (PDF)
- Read the full report (PDF)
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.