Pay Premiums Survey
Clothing and department stores account for 17 per cent of total retail sales, which has remained constant over time.
After four years of contraction, employment rebounded in the first two quarters of 2019.
Both British Columbia and Ontario have seen relatively constant growth since 2010.
Quebec’s share of clothing and department store retail has been sliding since 2010, likely due to the province’s population aging more rapidly than the Canadian average.
Large retailers continue to close stores, with Gap, Home Outfitters (Hudson’s Bay), and J.Crew all expected to close locations in Canada in 2019.
Fast-fashion giant Forever 21 will shutter all 44 of its Canadian locations by the end of the year.
The industry has been challenging for both very small and very large players, with significant declines in the number of businesses with fewer than 10 employees and more than 100 employees since 2015. By contrast, there are now 1,000 additional Canadian clothing and retail stores with 10 to 19 employees.
The median annual income for sales representatives is $17,800, while for cashiers it is $9,900. Together, they represent half of the industry’s workforce.
Since the industry relies on low-wage workers, recent minimum wage increases in Ontario and Alberta have put upward pressure on operating costs. Ontario’s retail trade employees saw a
5.2 per cent increase in wages between December 2017 and April 2018
GDP growth is expected to be weak, averaging just under 2 per cent from 2020 to 2024. This is due to larger economic trends that affect Canadians’ wealth—higher debt levels, rising interest rates, and weaker home prices.
Employment will enjoy a strong boost this year, growing 8.5 per cent in 2019. However, this will be short-lived. A 2.1 per cent decline is in the cards for 2020, and little to no growth is expected between 2021 and 2024.
As COVID-19 spreads, many Canadians—especially essential workers in key sectors—must still go to work at a physical workplace. How are their organizations supporting them?
The Conference Board has asked HR professionals across Canada about the many ways they’re supporting their public-facing workers.
Are organizations helping employees get to and from work?
Note: Survey responses were collected on Monday, March 30, 2020. These findings are part of a Conference Board series on work and pay during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for updates as this situation evolves.
Working Through COVID-19
Most organizations have employees going into a physical workplace
Q: Do you currently have employees who still go into work at a physical workplace (or workplaces)?
No
Yes
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
14%
86%
Have reduced work schedules
Have issued termination notices/pay-in-lieu
Have issued temporary layoffs
(n = 212; percentage of organizations)
Organizations taking employee safety seriously
Q: What measures have you put in place to ensure your employees’ safety?
(n = 182; percentage of organizations)
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
Ensuring cleanliness of work surfaces
Note: Total is greater than 100 as respondents could select more than one option.
Providing sanitary gels/hand-washing facilities
Forcing social distancing
Providing personal protective equipment
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Non-unionized
Unionized
Few front-line employees rewarded for service so far
Q: Are you providing pay premiums to non-unionized employees still coming into work?
(n = 157; percentage of organizations)
Note: Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
Yes
Considering
No
(n = 90; percentage of organizations)
Few front-line employees rewarded for service so far
Q: Are you providing pay premiums to unionized employees still coming into work?
74%
56%
13%
95%
94%
58%
21%
8%
8%
5%
71%
87%
15%
6%
9%
6%
77%
89%
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The spread of COVID-19 has transformed generally held definitions of “essential” work, and is shining significant light on Canada’s new front-line workers.
In this study, we define front-line employees as those who interact, in person, with the general public, and
are therefore most at risk.
of respondents have employees who need to attend work in person.
The following results look at this portion of organizations.
86%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Nine out of 10 organizations offering premiums are adding a fixed amount to employees’ pay. On average, employers are providing an additional $4.43 per hour worked.
Six out of 10 organizations offering premiums are adding a fixed amount to employees’ pay. On average, employers are providing an additional $3.54 per hour worked.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Taxi/Uber
Ride-share
Parking
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
Note: Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding.
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8%
4%
88%
3%
1%
96%
(n = 173; percentage of organizations)
Most employees on the hook for their commute
Eight out of 10 organizations that are providing reimbursements are covering the full amount.
Q: Are you reimbursing non-unionized employees who aren't comfortable taking public transit to work on site?
Eight out of 10 organizations that are providing reimbursements are covering the full amount.
(n = 111; percentage of organizations)
Most employees on the hook for their commute
Q: Are you reimbursing unionized employees who aren't comfortable taking public transit to work on site?
6%
3%
91%
3%
2%
96%
Non-unionized
Unionized
30%
5%
65%
28%
5%
67%
What about their safety when they get there?
As time goes on, organizations continue to adapt and implement new measures to keep their workers safe. Some organizations, like Canada Post and Loblaws, are even installing physical barriers to protect their public-facing employees.
1 in 3 are assessing employee health upon arrival
Assessing employees' health upon arrival
Installing physical barriers
37%
33%
Want more info? Access our remote work and compensation survey results, part of our ongoing Working Through COVID-19 series.
Non-front-line
Front-line
No
Yes
Considering
100
100%
Here’s what we found.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100