Yellowknife (Mar 14/03) - According to the latest Statistics Canada census numbers, the NWT is leaving the rest of the country in its dust with the highest earnings in the country.

Not only that, but the territories' education levels appear to be on the rise as well.

The education and earnings statistics are the latest in a series of 2001 census numbers released by Statistics Canada on March 11.

Out of 22,000 people surveyed in the NWT, the average annual earnings per person is $36,645 -- far ahead of the national average of $31,757.

Even oil-rich Alberta -- with the highest growth rate in the country at 11.5 per cent -- lags behind at $32,603.

The numbers are even more impressive when narrowed down to full-year, full-time workers -- surveyed with an average income of $51,823. The national average is $43,231 per full-year, full-time worker.

The census also showed an increase in the number of NWT residents ages 25-64 with a post-secondary education. As of 2001, almost 55 per cent had attained either a university degree, college diploma or trade certificate compared with 50.4 per cent in 1991. There were 14 per cent more high school graduates in 2001 than there were in 1991.

"By and large earnings are going up," said Sherry Wallace, communications manager for the NWT and Prairie regions with Statistics Canada.

"Part of that in many parts of the country has to do with the aging workforce.

"It's always been a general rule of thumb that more experienced workers earn a higher wage."

Education, Culture, and Employment Minister, Jake Ootes said while the high income numbers appear rosy, the high cost of living in the NWT should be taken into account.

Nonetheless, he was pleased the number of residents taking part in post-secondary programs was on the rise.

"There's an even distribution between trade school, college and university," said Ootes, noting that the percentage of NWT residents between the three was almost even with 17 per cent in trades, 18 per cent in with college diplomas, and 19 per cent with university degrees.

"It's not just those who leave high school but also those who may have dropped out and gone back to school."

Johnny Bowden, principal of St. Patrick high school, said graduation levels are definitely on the rise.

However, improvements still need to be made.

"In the Northwest Territories it's a tremendous hurdle for kids to meet graduation requirements and one of the main stumbling blocks is the English 33 final exam," said Bowden.

"Primarily because the exam is still based primarily on your control of literature and abstract language... Less Shakespeare and more practical skills like filling out applications to specific job related skills and language."