Major wage settlements by COLA and year

Publication date: April 30, 2023

All sectors
Total Without COLA With COLA
Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average) Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average) Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average)
2014 244 666,458 45.3 1.5 1.7 236 658,148 45.3 1.5 1.7 8 8,310 44.1 1.9 1.8
2015 243 757,958 42.9 1.0 1.2 236 743,788 42.6 1.0 1.2 7 14,170 54.7 1.8 2.2
2016 283 1,070,337 46.8 0.9 1.4 271 967,819 47.6 0.9 1.4 12 102,518 39.3 1.1 1.1
2017 215 844,637 39.6 1.7 1.7 213 842,537 39.6 1.7 1.7 2 2,100 47.1 1.6 2.5
2018 205 688,101 42.7 1.2 1.3 204 686,801 42.7 1.2 1.3 1 1,300 60.0 7.6 3.9
2019 234 569,082 42.4 1.7 1.7 233 568,582 42.4 1.7 1.7 1 500 36.0 2.4 3.2
2020 143 709,471 41.4 1.6 1.6 135 622,701 40.8 1.6 1.5 8 86,770 45.6 1.9 2.2
2021 129 924,371 41.0 1.9 1.9 127 874,371 41.9 1.9 1.9 2 50,000 25.4 2.3 2.1
2022 56 305,058 42.9 2.5 2.5 54 243,046 44.6 2.1 2.2 2 62,012 36.0 4.2 3.9
2023 9 20,381 49.1 1.9 2.8 8 15,381 53.4 1.4 2.5 1 5,000 36.0 3.2 3.6

Note: Data for 2023 cover the months of January through March. Major settlements are those involving bargaining units of 500 or more employees. For additional information, please see the Technical notes.

Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Employment and Social Development Canada.

Private sector
Total Without COLA With COLA
Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average) Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average) Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average)
2014 67 151,863 39.5 3.4 2.2 60 144,163 39.3 3.5 2.3 7 7,700 43.7 1.9 1.8
2015 94 188,460 51.7 2.4 1.9 88 174,820 51.4 2.4 1.9 6 13,640 55.4 1.8 2.2
2016 123 248,622 44.8 1.5 1.5 113 205,104 42.8 1.5 1.6 10 43,518 54.0 1.6 1.0
2017 72 183,307 45.5 2.6 1.9 70 181,207 45.4 2.6 1.9 2 2,100 47.1 1.6 2.5
2018 76 211,768 46.9 1.9 1.7 75 210,468 46.8 1.8 1.7 1 1,300 60.0 7.6 3.9
2019 83 159,933 42.9 2.1 2.2 82 159,433 42.9 2.1 2.2 1 500 36.0 2.4 3.2
2020 41 96,517 49.9 2.0 1.8 35 68,747 55.6 1.7 1.7 6 27,770 35.9 2.5 1.8
2021 44 194,514 48.6 2.0 2.0 43 192,514 48.5 2.0 2.0 1 2,000 60.0 8.4 3.3
2022 21 53,282 53.6 3.2 2.8 21 53,282 53.6 3.2 2.8
2023 3 8,918 56.2 0.7 2.4 3 8,918 56.2 0.7 2.4

Legend: The dash (–) symbol indicates missing data.

Note: Data for 2023 cover the months of January through March. Major settlements are those involving bargaining units of 500 or more employees. For additional information, please see the Technical notes.

Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Employment and Social Development Canada.

Public sector
Total Without COLA With COLA
Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average) Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average) Number of agreements Number of employees Duration of agreements in months (average) First year percentage adjustment (average) Annual percentage adjustment (average)
2014 177 514,595 47.0 0.9 1.5 176 513,985 47.0 0.9 1.5 1 610 48.0 1.5 1.8
2015 149 569,498 39.9 0.6 1.0 148 568,968 39.9 0.6 1.0 1 530 36.0 1.8 2.1
2016 160 821,715 47.4 0.8 1.3 158 762,715 48.9 0.8 1.3 2 59,000 28.5 0.8 1.2
2017 143 661,330 38.0 1.4 1.7 143 661,330 38.0 1.4 1.7
2018 129 476,333 40.8 0.9 1.1 129 476,333 40.8 0.9 1.1
2019 151 409,149 42.2 1.5 1.5 151 409,149 42.2 1.5 1.5
2020 102 612,954 40.1 1.6 1.6 100 553,954 39.0 1.6 1.5 2 59,000 50.2 1.6 2.3
2021 85 729,857 39.0 1.9 1.9 84 681,857 40.1 1.8 1.9 1 48,000 24.0 2.0 2.0
2022 35 251,776 40.6 2.3 2.5 33 189,764 42.1 1.7 2.0 2 62,012 36.0 4.2 3.9
2023 6 11,463 43.6 2.7 3.1 5 6,463 49.4 2.3 2.8 1 5,000 36.0 3.2 3.6

Legend: The dash (–) symbol indicates missing data.

Note: Data for 2023 cover the months of January through March. Major settlements are those involving bargaining units of 500 or more employees. For additional information, please see the Technical notes.

Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Employment and Social Development Canada.

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