Canadian workers who changed jobs received a median annual base pay increase of 6 per cent in October, twice the 3 per cent increase recorded by employees who remained with their employers, according to the latest ADP Canada Pay Insights report.
The October 2026 findings also show that gross pay increased 10.4 per cent year-over-year for job-changers, compared with 4.5 per cent for job-stayers, highlighting a difference in pay growth between workers who moved to new positions and those who stayed with their existing employers.
Produced by ADP Research, the monthly report tracks changes in compensation among Canadian private-sector workers, providing employers and businesses with data on wage trends across industries, provinces and territories, company sizes and age groups.
Pay increases relatively consistent across sectors
The October figures show relatively little variation in median annual base pay increases across Canada's goods-producing and service-providing industries, with most sectors recording increases of between 3 and 3.1 per cent.
Among goods-producing industries, manufacturing recorded the highest increase at 3.1 per cent. Natural resources and mining and construction each posted median annual base pay growth of 3 per cent.
In service-providing industries, trade, transportation and utilities and professional and business services each recorded increases of 3.1 per cent. Information, financial activities, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and other services all reported increases of 3 per cent.
The figures suggest a relatively consistent pattern of base pay growth across the sectors included in the report, with no industry recording an increase above 3.1 per cent among the categories listed.
Provincial wage growth varies
Prince Edward Island recorded the highest median annual base pay increase among the provinces and territories in October, at 3.8 per cent, followed by New Brunswick at 3.3 per cent.
Quebec and Nova Scotia each recorded increases of 3.1 per cent, while Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Saskatchewan all posted growth of 3 per cent.
Yukon had the lowest reported increase at 2.5 per cent.
The results show that most provinces recorded similar annual base pay growth, with the largest differences occurring in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Yukon.
Company size shows little difference
Median annual base pay increases were also consistent across businesses of different sizes.
Companies employing between one and 199 workers, those with 200 to 499 employees, and organizations with 500 or more employees all recorded increases of 3 per cent in October.
Pay growth varied somewhat more by age group. Workers aged 25 to 34 recorded the highest median annual base pay increase at 3.5 per cent, followed by those aged 15 to 24 and 35 to 54, both at 3 per cent.
Employees aged 55 to 85 recorded the lowest increase among the age categories, at 2.8 per cent.