Living wage in Hamilton rises to $23.10 per hour: report

Hamilton’s living wage is now at $23.10/hr, a 2.21 per cent increase from last year, according to the Ontario Living Wage Network.

This updated calculation was released on Monday and reflects what it costs to live and work in Hamilton.

The calculation covers essentials including rent, food, childcare and transportation, while allowing people and families to participate fully in community life.

The report says rates vary in regions across Ontario as costs of living change. The updated living wages in Ontario range from $21.15/hr in the southwest region to $27.60/hr in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). 

On Oct. 1, minimum wage for Ontario increased to $17.95 but the report states that there is still no place in the province where someone could make ends meet working full-time at this wage. 

It says the gap of over $5/hr in Hamilton represents the growing challenge for working people trying to keep up with rising housing and food costs. 

The report says that Hamilton’s living wage has increased by 55 per cent when it was first calculated at $14.95/hr in 2015 when Ontario’s minimum wage was $11.

READ MORE: Living wage in Hamilton rises to $20.80 per hour: report