The average Canadian employee was paid about $789 a week in June but had less buying power than a year earlier, the latest federal figures suggest.

Statistics Canada reported Wednesday that average weekly earnings rose 2.5 per cent in the 12 months, including a slim increase of 0.1 per cent from May to June. The earnings figures are adjusted to smooth seasonal swings.

The agency previously reported that consumer prices were 3.1 per cent higher in June than a year earlier after rising 0.8 per cent from May to June, also on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Wednesday's payroll earnings report showed sharply different pay scales from industry to industry, some far above the national weekly average of $789.23 a week.

The top figures were in mining, quarrying, oil and gas ($1,528.79, up 8.2 per cent in the 12 months), utilities ($1,200.65, up 7 per cent), and finance and insurance ($1,025.87, up 3.1 per cent).

The lowest were in retail trade ($491.76, up 1.6 per cent), arts, entertainment and recreation ($486, up 7.4 per cent), and accommodation and food services ($335.74, up 2.1 per cent).

Geographically, the biggest average paycheques were in the high-cost North: $996.12 in the Northwest Territories, $940.33 in Nunavut and $890.80 in the Yukon.

The lowest were in New Brunswick ($708.74), Nova Scotia ($674.44) and Prince Edward Island ($628.91).