Union Wage Rate Indexes for Major Construction Trades, 20-City Composite

Detailed information for April 2007

The Construction Union Wage Rate Index series measure monthly changes over time in the collective agreement rates, where they exist, for 16 trades engaged in building construction in 20 metropolitan areas.

Data release - May 17, 2007

• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The Construction Union Wage Rate Index series measure monthly changes over time in the collective agreement rates, where they exist, for 16 trades engaged in building construction in 20 metropolitan areas. These series can be employed in several ways, including keeping users abreast of pay scale changes within the unionized construction work force, identifying differences between trades and between regions, incorporating them into the escalation clauses of construction contracts and time series analysis.

Reference period: The time period for which the CUWRI equals 100; currently this is the year 1992.

Collection period: Monthly, during the month following the reference month.

Subjects

• Construction
• Construction price indexes
• Labour
• Prices and price indexes
• Unionization and industrial relations
• Wages, salaries and other earnings

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The universe consists of the hourly wage rate of a unionized journeyman for all construction unions for all trades engaged in industrial, commercial and institutional construction projects across Canada.

The population that is observed consists of a subset of 22 census metropolitan areas (CMA) and 16 trades.

Instrument design

This methodology does not apply.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a longitudinal design.

While there exist many constructions trade categories, only 16 trades are actually tracked over time. These 16 trade groups are chosen on the basis of their high importance to the construction industry. For each trade group, a census is taken, as one trade group in a province is represented by one union.

Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are extracted from administrative files.

There is no questionnaire for the Construction Union Wage Rate Index. The data are obtained from the wage rates and supplements information contained in the collective agreements that have been signed and are in place in the various jurisdictions. Collection for the Construction Union Wage Rate Index consists of telephone contacts and consulting the web sites of various construction labour relations associations for each province. Summaries of the signed agreements for the relevant trades are provided to Statistics Canada.

Error detection

The microdata are verified by the data production officer and the survey analyst. Any inconsistencies are clarified with the respondent.

Imputation

During periods where agreements are under negotiation and current contracts have expired, the last prevailing rates are carried forward until a new agreement is in place.

Estimation

Weights

The weights used are based on estimates of gross earnings of each trade in each metropolitan area, as derived from 1991 Census data. A fixed- basket Laspeyres index formula is used for the 1992 based indexes.

Rates

Two rates are indexed: basic rates, indicating the straight time hourly compensation; and basic rates including supplements, such as vacation pay, statutory holiday pay, pension contribution, and employers' contribution to private plans, health and welfare plans, industry promotion and training funds. Wage rates used for these indexes are derived mainly from those published in the various collective agreements.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Collected data are converted to price indexes and data are released as such, so that it is not possible to identify the suppliers of raw prices.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

Given the length of time that can transpire between the expiration of a contract and the ratification of a new agreement, the revision period for the wage rates and indexes is 30 months.

Data accuracy

The weight information was derived from the Statistics Canada 1991 Census, while the rate information is obtained from administrative data. Both sources of input are subject to their own errors.

Due to survey methodology of the Construction Union Wage Rates index, confidence intervals are not currently estimated. Indexes for higher and lower levels of aggregation are considered to be statistically reliable.