Wages in Canada are rising faster than inflation — led by women — but in booming sectors, the gender pay gap is growing even faster
Wage growth – driven largely by women – is outpacing inflation across most industries. Job opportunities are declining overall, with two notable exceptions. Litigation backlogs are easing in Western employment courts. Meanwhile, gender wage gaps are widening significantly in newly high-paying sectors.
These are among the standout findings from the inaugural May edition of Strategic HR, Canadian HR Reporter’s new monthly data briefing giving HR professionals a clear, data-backed lens into Canada’s evolving employment landscape.
From rising wage expectations to widening gender pay gaps, the May edition highlights structural shifts in Canada’s labour landscape and crucial trends for HR professionals across five areas: vacancies, wages, tenure and litigation, labour force, and unemployment.
Among the most prominent HR trends highlighted are Canadians wages – examined in the context of inflation, overall growth differences between men and women, and, most notably, the widening gender wage gap in certain high-growth industries.
In April 2025, Canadian employee’s median hourly wage rose 3.79 percent over the previous 12 months. Inflation, by contrast, increased just 1.74 percent over the same period – the lowest YOY rise since September. As a result, April's gap between employee's wage and inflation growth was the largest since the start of the year. For employees, this a sign of growing wage power. For HR pros and employers, this suggests the arrival of a new normal: a 3–4 percent annual wage increase now appears to be the baseline expectation across many Canadian industries.
Women of the workplace led April’s wage growth, with their median hourly wages rising 4 percent YOY, compared to 3.03 percent for men, as detailed in the latest Strategic HR report. Over the past 12 months, women’s wage growth has consistently outpaced men’s – a notable positive for gender inclusion and HR efforts across Canada’s labour market.
Gender wage gaps in Canada
However, the report’s analysis of leading wage growth by industry reveals troubling gender wage gaps Canadian HR pros are well advised to keep tabs on.
In April, the industries with the highest YOY wage increases included information and culture (10 percent), utilities (4.7 percent), and professional services (3.4 percent), among others. Despite strong wage gains in these top-performing sectors, these same industries also saw significant increases in the wages male employees earned over female employees; the gender wage gap rose 114 percent, 223 percent, and 56 percent, respectively.
This suggests that women have largely been left out of information and culture, utilities and professional services recent wage surges. Have high profile Canadian HR efforts missed the mark for women’s success, specifically in information and professional services?
Analysis of job vacancies, labour force growth
Additionally, the report offers in-depth analysis and insights on:
- job vacancies and employee numbers, with detailed breakdowns by industry
- how long employees stay with their employer across industries
- employment court decision trends, including backlog clearance in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia
- labour force growth and shrinkage by province and major city, spotlighting underrated hiring hotspots
- unemployment rates by age group, gender, and education level
- sector-specific HR strategies to support recruitment, retention, and compliance
Each section is enriched with clear YOY comparisons, visually engaging infographics, and practical takeaways designed to help employers and HR pros stay agile in a rapidly changing labour market.
Whether you’re managing compliance risk, negotiating salaries, or redefining your hiring strategy, Strategic HR empowers Canadian HR professionals with the actionable insights they need to move confidently from data to decision.
Access the full May edition here to stay informed and stay ahead.
