Updated 2024 Living Wage Rates

As inflation has calmed in the past year the 2024 living wage rates have increased by an average of 3.4%. For the most part the increase to this year’s living wage rate is mainly due to rising costs for rent in our province. Inflation of food costs may have calmed but still remain high relative to earlier years.

As expected, the Greater Toronto Area continues to have the highest living wage rate at $26.00, up from $25.05. The London-Elgin-Oxford region has the lowest in the province at $19.50, up from $18.85.

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Info Session for Potential Employers

We could talk about the living wage for hours non-stop, but it is employers who make the best case for certification. Know of someone in the restaurant/service sector who might benefit from a session with other certified living wage owners and managers? Fire this link their way. 
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2023 Living Wage Rates

It's Living Wage Week 2023, and as always, we lead off with the updated living wage rates. This year saw increases in all 10 regions, with the GTA as the highest at $25.05 and the Southwest (Windsor) coming in at $18.85. Use our interactive map to find your local rate.

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Landscaped with a living wage

Spring is in the air. For many, the retreat of the white stuff reveals a load of yard work and landscaping. We've put together a handy list and map of every certified living wage company that could help you prepare your grounds this season.

While many job postings in this sector begin at or near the minimum wage, these employers pay all workers at least a locally calculated living wage:

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New increase, same story

Ontario's minimum wage is set to increase to $16.55 an hour on October 1, 2023. While this is technically a raise for those at the very bottom of the wage scale, it's still far short of the living wage anywhere in the province.

Despite small wage increases over the last few years, we know that "...64 per cent of Canadian workers have experienced real wage losses over the past two years, after adjusting for inflation" via a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives economist David Macdonald. 

Here's how the $1.05 raise compares to regional living wages:

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Meridian Credit Union becomes largest certified living wage employer in Ontario

Fair compensation for employees translates to improved financial and overall well-being

TORONTO— Meridian marks an important milestone today in becoming the largest employer to become certified by the Ontario Living Wage Network. A living wage reflects an income that a worker must bring home in order to meet their basic living needs and participate more fully in life, work and community.

“Our employees power Meridian’s purpose and we have a commitment to support their financial security and economic well-being,” says Jay-Ann Gilfoy, President & CEO, Meridian. “As a Certified Living Wage Employer, we are building resilience and wealth in the communities where we live and work”

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Living Wage Week 2022

Let's get right to the headline news...we have updated all living wage rates for the province!

As announced earlier, we've moved to a regional system. By doing this we'll be able to update all 10 living wage rates every year on the second Monday of November, and every employer in the province will be able to seek certification with us. Previous years have see us add new living wage calculations to our map, but there was always gaps in our coverage. If we continued on with the old boundary system, we would have needed to keep an unwieldy 51 local living wage rates updated every year...

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New living wage rates calculated; all have gone up to reflect increased costs.

KITCHENER—The Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) has completed 10 living wage rate calculations covering all regions of Ontario, and now range from $18.05 in London to $23.15 in the GTA. All rates saw an increase, with largest jump in Sault Ste. Marie: $16.20 in 2021 to $19.70, representing a 21.6% increase.

Despite the recent increases to the minimum wage to $15.50, there is no region in the province where this is even close to a living wage.

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Minimum wage increases in Ontario won’t help with the rising cost of living, owner says

Ontario's minimum wage increased 50 cents an hour over the weekend, but Aiana owner Devinder Chaudhary says the increase to $15.50 won’t help with the rising cost of living.

"The minimum wage should be the living wage,” Chaudhary said.

His Ottawa restaurant is part of the Ontario Living Wage Network, paying his employees a minimum of $18.60 an hour. That is the calculated wage an Ottawa resident needs to adequately cover expenses like food, clothing, shelter, medical and other expenses.

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