OTTAWA—The Conference Board of Canada’s recently released the results of its annual compensation planning outlook survey.

The report noted that salary growth has been strong in Alberta and Saskatchewan this past year, at approximately four per cent higher than the national average of three per cent.

RELATED: Oil and gas incomes on the rise

“Economic growth is uneven across the country. While employers are feeling the pinch in ontario and other parts of eastern Canada, the oil and gas sector is pushing up wages in Alberta and Saskatchewan,” said Ian Cullwick, Vice-President, Leadership and Human Resources Research.

Salaries in oil and gas this year are rising slightly faster than we projected, and labour markets in western Canada are tightening. We have heard from natural resources firms that virtually all of them are having trouble finding the skilled workers they need.”

Salary growth projections have been revised upwards in Saskatchewan (four per cent) and Alberta (3.9 per cent). The projections for Quebec (2.7 per cent), ontario (2.5 per cent), and British Columbia (2.5 per cent) have been revised downward, and remain below the national average of three per cent.

The Conference Board conducted the survey in December 2012.

www.conferenceboard.ca