City of Surrey
Employment Income Fact Sheet
Preface
Every five years, Statistics Canada conducts a Census of Population in order to develop a statistical
portrait of Canada and its people. The most recent Census was conducted in May 2011.
At the time of the last Census, Statistic Canada replaced the long form Census that collected social and
economic data with a voluntary National Household Survey (NHS). The 2011 Census questionnaire
consisted of the same eight demographic and linguistic questions that appeared on the 2006 Census
short-form questionnaire, with the addition of two questions on language. The content of the new NHS
is similar to that of the 2006 Census long questionnaire; however, changes were made to some
questions and sections of the questionnaire. For example, in the 2011 NHS changes were made to the
questions used to measure Aboriginal identity; a new component of income is measured; and, the
universe for determining generation status was expanded to include the entire population.
Comparability
The Global Non-response Rate (GNR) is used to ascertain the level of non-response to the National
Household Survey. Due to the voluntary nature of the survey, the NHS is subject to greater nonresponse bias.
Change in survey method or content can affect the comparability of the data over time. Statistics
Canada states that it is impossible to determine whether, and to what extent, differences in a variable
are attributable to change or to non-response bias. As a result, caution must be exercised when NHS
estimates are compared with data from the 2006 Census long form.
Fact Sheet Overview
The community demographic profiles in this series provide a comparison between the current and
previous censuses, Surrey and key Metro Vancouver municipalities, as well as between each of Surrey’s
six communities: Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton, South Surrey, and Whalley. City Centre is
also identified as a sub-community planning area within Whalley.
For the purpose of this and other facts sheets in the series, the term “National Household Survey” (NHS)
refers to the National Household Survey of Canada conducted by Statistics Canada. The voluntary survey
collected social and economic information about the people of Canada between May and August 2011.
The term “Census” in this document refers to the Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada
on May 10, 2011. The Census provides information about the people and housing units in Canada.
Updated: December 2014
City of Surrey
Employment Income Fact Sheet
EMPLOYMENT INCOME
Employment income refers to the total income received by persons 15 years of age and over during
2010 as wages and salaries, net income from a non-farm unincorporated business and/or professional
practice, and/or net farm self-employment income. The National Household Survey includes information
on part time and full time work activity, as well as the number of weeks worked in the year.
In 2010, employment income comprised 77.3% of the total income earned by persons 15 years of age
and over in Surrey.
Employment Income in Surrey’s Communities
In 2010, the proportion of persons 15 years of age and over earning an employment income ranged
from 69.0% in South Surrey, to 84.2% in Cloverdale.
Population Earning Employment Income in Surrey's Communities
City Centre
77.9%
Whalley
77.6%
South Surrey
69.0%
Newton
78.4%
Guildford
79.5%
Fleetwood
80.1%
Cloverdale
84.2%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0%
Share of Population Aged 15 Years and Over
Updated: December 2014
City of Surrey
Employment Income Fact Sheet
In 2010, the average employment income for persons 15 years of age and over who worked a full year,
full time in Surrey was $53,208. South Surrey had the highest average employment income ($77,166),
while Whalley had the lowest average employment income ($42,535).
Employment Income in Surrey's Communities
City Centre
Whalley
South Surrey
Newton
Guildford
Fleetwood
Cloverdale
$0
$10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000
Income ($)
Median employment income in 2010 ($)
Average Employment Income in 2010 ($)
Updated: December 2014
City of Surrey
Employment Income Fact Sheet
Regional Comparison of Employment Income
In 2010, the proportion of persons 15 years of age and over earning an employment income ranged
from 64.3% in White Rock, to 79.7% in Coquitlam. Comparatively, in Surrey, 77.3% persons 15 years of
age and over earned an employment income.
Regional Comparison of Population Earning Employment Income
White Rock
64.3%
West Vancouver
65.7%
Vancouver
78.0%
Surrey
77.3%
Richmond
76.6%
North Vancouver (District)
76.4%
New Westminster
78.9%
Langley (City)
76.1%
Langley (Township)
77.8%
Delta
76.2%
Coquitlam
79.7%
Burnaby
77.3%
Metro Vancouver
77.2%
0%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Share of Population Aged 15 Years and Over
In 2010, the average employment income for persons 15 years of age and over who worked a full year,
full time in Metro Vancouver was $61,416. This was higher than in Surrey where the average
employment income was $53,208. Surrey had the second lowest average employment income after the
City of Langley ($51,382).
Updated: December 2014
City of Surrey
Employment Income Fact Sheet
Average and Median Income in Metro Vancouver
White Rock
West Vancouver
Vancouver
Surrey
Richmond
North Vancouver (District)
New Westminster
Langley (City)
Langley (township)
Delta
Coquitlam
Burnaby
Metro Vancouver
$0
$40,000
$80,000
$120,000
$160,000
Income ($)
Average employment income in 2010 ($)
Median employment income in 2010 ($)
WORK ACTIVITY
Work activity refers to the number of weeks in which a person worked for pay or in self-employment in
2010 for all jobs held, and whether the weeks were primarily full-time (30 hours or more per week) or
part-time.
In 2010, 79.5% of the 230,440 persons 15 years of age and over that worked in Surrey worked full-time,
while 20.5% worked part-time.
Updated: December 2014
City of Surrey
Employment Income Fact Sheet
Work Activity in Surrey’s Communities
The greatest proportion of people working full time was in City Centre (76.2%). South Surrey had the
lowest proportion of people working full time (70.5%).
Work Activity in Surrey's Communities
City Centre
76.2%
16.2%
7.6%
Whalley
75.5%
17.1%
7.4%
South Surrey
25.0%
70.5%
Newton
16.7%
76.2%
Guildford
22.1%
71.6%
Fleetwood
19.1%
74.3%
Cloverdale
19.7%
76.9%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
4.5%
7.2%
6.3%
6.6%
3.4%
100%
Share of Labour Force Population 15 Years and Over
Worked Full-time
Worked Part-Time
Did Not Work
Regional Comparison of Work Activity
In 2010, 73.9% of the 1,204,025 persons 15 years of age and over in Metro Vancouver worked full-time,
20.6% worked part-time, and 5.4% did not work. The proportion of persons aged 15 years and over
employed full-time, part-time, or that did not work was relatively consistent for all Metro Vancouver
municipalities.
Updated: December 2014
City of Surrey
Employment Income Fact Sheet
Work Activity in Metro Vancouver
White Rock
70.7%
23.6%
5.7%
West Vancouver
68.1%
27.4%
4.4%
Vancouver
75.3%
19.4% 5.3%
Surrey
74.6%
19.2% 6.2%
Richmond
72.7%
21.3% 6.0%
North Vancouver (District)
69.8%
25.8%
4.3%
New Westminster
75.6%
19.1% 5.3%
Langley (City)
74.9%
19.3% 5.8%
Langley (Township)
72.6%
22.5% 4.9%
Delta
72.3%
23.2% 4.5%
Coquitlam
73.1%
21.6% 5.3%
Burnaby
73.8%
20.0% 6.1%
Metro Vancouver
73.9%
20.6% 5.4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Share of Labour Force Population 15 Years and Over
Worked Full-time
Worked Part-time
Did Not Work
Updated: December 2014