Report: Lower pay raises due in Canada

TORONTO, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Most Canadian workers receive lower wage increases in 2009 as a result of global economic turmoil, the Conference Board of Canada said in a report Monday.

The board conducted its annual survey of 395 employers from June to August 2008, and found compensation planners expected non-union wage increases to average 3.9 percent in 2009, a news release issued in Toronto said.

Prem Benimadhu, vice president of the board's governance and human resources management division, said those forecasts were made before international markets went into chaos in September.

"Although companies continue to face challenges in attracting and retaining talent, the global economic slowdown has made cost reduction a top priority," he said.

The lowest pay raises are expected in the battered manufacturing sector, and in communications and telecommunications, the forecast said.

However, workers in the oil and gas industry are expected to lead the country in average wage growth, although at less than the 6 percent increases projected for 2009, the release said.