It’s Living Wage Week 2022 and Hamilton’s new living wage is $19.05.

A new report from the Ontario Living Wage Network was released on Monday that suggests hourly wages required to live in Ontario have increased amid decades-high inflation and remain significantly above the province’s minimum wage.

Living Wage Hamilton, a coalition made up of community groups including SPRC Hamilton, announced Monday that $19.05 an hour is the minimum rate folks in the city should earn to account for the cost of living in the city. This is up nearly 11 per cent from $17.20 a year before. This marks the largest increase since the rate began being calculated a decade ago. In contrast, Ontario’s minimum wage is $15.50 an hour.

“This is really about a rate that allows someone to participate in our community and not just to get by.”

Ted Hildebrandt, SPRC Hamilton

“It’s important to remember that the living wage doesn’t reflect necessarily all the costs that that many families are facing these days. It doesn’t account for debt repayment or saving for education. So, in that sense, it’s a very no-frills type budget.”

Tom Cooper, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction

For more details, check out the Ontario Living Wage Network calculation report here.

Media Coverage

• Living wage in Hamilton rises to $19.05 per hour, up more than 10% from last calculation | CBC News
• Hamilton’s living wage swells to $19.05 an hour | TheSpec.com
• Living wage jumps to $19.05 an hour in Hamilton: Ontario Living Wage Network – Hamilton | Globalnews.ca
• Report suggests living wage in Hamilton is $19.05 an hour (chch.com)
• By the numbers: Here’s the living wage in 10 Ontario regions | TVO Today