The average weekly earnings of payroll employees fell $4.44 in December from November, standing at $734.60, Statistics Canada reported today.

The decline leaves the annual growth rate for 2005 at 3.1%.

Industries showing the strongest annual increase included information and culture, up 5.9%, accommodation and food services, up 5.9%, management of companies and enterprises, up 5%, mining and oil and gas, up 4.7%, construction, up 4%, and forestry, logging and support, up 4%.

Alberta registered the largest annual growth in average weekly earnings, where they rose 5.2%.

Payroll employment in December increased by 39,800 jobs from the previous month, to stand at 13,877,400, or an increase of 256,100 payroll jobs over the year before.

The average weekly hours for hourly paid employees increased 0.3% to 31.7 during 2005, despite a monthly decline of 0.3 hours from November to December.