Income (I)

The latest census release, on income, is most interesting.


As entirely expected, Rest of Labrador still has the highest median income, for full-time earners, in the province. The 2006 census asked about income in the previous calendar year. Full-time earners in Rest of Labrador had a median income of $50,429, well above the provincial average of $37,429.


Rising to second place overall among the province's eleven census divisions is Division 11, Nunatsiavut. The median income for full-time earners in the Inuit communities of Labrador was $39,808 in 2005, up 18.2% from 2000 — the highest rate of increase anywhere in the province. This dramatic increase catapulted Nunatsiavut from the bottom half of the pack, sixth in 2000, to near the top.


Third place belongs to Division 1, the Avalon Peninsula, at $38,465. The St. John's Census Metropolitan Area, taken in exclusion, had a median income for full-time earners of $39,592.


The St. John's CMA, and the two Labrador divisions, had median incomes, for full-time earners, higher than the provincial average. The rest of the Avalon, like the rest of Newfoundland, fell below the provincial average, including CD 6, central Newfoundland, which had been above the all-province average in 2000.


Interestingly, St. John's, the rural Avalon, and Labrador had increases in full-time earner income between 2000 and 2005. In Nunatsiavut, the increase as note above was over 18%, in the rest of Labrador, 12%, in St. John's 3.9%, and in the rest of Avalon 2.1%. However, playing agains what might be preconceived notions, the south coast and the southwest corner of Newfoundland, including the Stephenville area, also showed increases, of 6.7% and 9.1% respectively. In the case of the Stephenville-Bay St. George area, the census data are for 2005, when the full impact of the mill closure was not yet being felt.


Insight into what might explain these two regions' bucking the rural Newfoundland trend is most welcome.

Change in median income, full-time earners, by Census Division and St. John's CMA, 2000-2000. Shades of green indicate increases (<10%,>15%); pale red indicates a decrease. Based on inflation-adjusted constant 2005 dollars: