Canadian Megatrends, June 2015
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Released: 2015-06-29
Minimum wage in Canada since 1975
The minimum wage and the average hourly wage have been in virtual lockstep in Canada since the end of the 1970s, according to this month's edition Canadian Megatrends, which examines the evolution of minimum wage in Canada.
Although the minimum wage and the average hourly wage went through many fluctuations over this 40-year period, in 2014 their level was essentially unchanged compared with the end of the 1970s, when adjusting for inflation.
In 2014, the minimum wage had an average value of $10.39 per hour, compared with just over $11 in 1976. Meanwhile, average hourly earnings were around $23 in 2014, compared with close to $24 in 1977.
The issue also looks at the proportion of employees earning minimum wage by province and demographic characteristics.
Products
The article "Minimum wage in Canada since 1975," part of Canadian Megatrends (11-630-X), is now available from The Daily module of our website.
Contact information
For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).
To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Diane Galarneau (613-854-3018; diane.galarneau@statcan.gc.ca) or Sébastien Larochelle-Coté (613-951-0803; sebastien.larochelle-cote@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.
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