(Montreal) The wages of retail employees have increased between 12 and 39% since 2016 in Quebec, according to a survey on compensation in this sector which currently shows tens of thousands of vacancies.
The average hourly rate for a cashier will be $15.46 in 2022, an increase of 32% compared to six years ago, reveals the study conducted by the organization Retail Quebec in collaboration with Rémunia.
The survey looked at 16 retail job categories, based on wage data for 37,676 workers in the sector.
The strongest increase is found among purchasing and inventory clerks (+39%) for an average salary of $16.50 per hour. They are closely followed by customer service agents and advisors (+37%), reaching a median basic hourly rate of $17.96.
During this same period, the minimum wage in the province, which amounts to $14.25 per hour, has increased by 33%, underlines Retail Quebec in a press release.
The study also reveals that the highest salaries are earned among digital-related jobs. For example, e-commerce managers can pocket an average of $47.79 per hour.
“This is partly explained by the strong demand generated by the acceleration of the digital shift of retailers as well as the scarcity of expertise on the labor market,” says Retail Quebec, which brings together representatives of employers and workers in the sector. retail trade.
In addition to compensation, the analysis looked at benefits and conditions. In particular, more retailers offer a group insurance plan; 82% compared to 77% in 2016. And three-quarters of companies now offer a retirement plan, the most common of which is the voluntary retirement savings plan.
Also according to the study, 40% of retailers have implemented a financial program encouraging employees to recommend someone they know to fill positions. The average amount of a “referral bonus” is $629, the study says.
In the eyes of Retail Quebec, these results make it possible to dispel many prejudices related to the retail trade and demonstrate the willingness of employers to improve working conditions.
“If we rely on market data, retailers have taken the lead in offering much more than the minimum wage as well as attractive competitive conditions,” said the organization’s director general, Manuel Champagne.
Retail Quebec reports that the sector has nearly 32,000 vacant positions.
This article was produced with the financial support of the Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News.