Table of Contents
- Is There a Minimum Wage in Canada?
- Minimum Wage by Province Map – 2022.
- Minimum Wage Increases in 2022.
- Recent Stats and Interesting Facts about the Minimum Wage.
- Current and Upcoming Minimum Wage Rates for Adult Workers in 2022 – table.
- Minimum Hourly Wage Rates for Young Workers and Specific Occupations in 2022 – table.
Is There a Minimum Wage in Canada?
As of April 2022, the federal minimum wage in Canada has been increased from $15.00 to $15.55 per hour [5]. The lowest federal rate in Canada should not be confused with the minimum wage by province – the lowest hourly rate required to be paid to an employee and determined by the employment standards legislation of each province. Click here to learn how the federal minimum wage in the USA differs from the wage requirements by state.
The federal minimum wage is adjusted annually in April based on average increases of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to keep pace with inflation. This applies to federally regulated private sectors accounting for around 6% of all workers in Canada.
Minimum Wage by Province Map – 2022.
If you want to check the minimum wage by province effective at a certain time, the Minimum Wage in Canada database provides general overview of current and forthcoming minimum wage rates for adult workers. To find exceptions for the minimum wage requirements in Canada, look for the lowest hourly rates for young workers and workers with specific occupations.
Below is the 2022 minimum wage by province map illustrating the lowest hourly rates required to be paid to employees within each province and territory. For convenience, the map was color-coded to assign provinces and territories to low, medium, or high wage ranges. Click here if you want to view the 2022 minimum wage by province table including the upcoming rate increases, or here to view the 2022 hourly rates for young workers and specific occupations.
Minimum Wage Increases in 2022.
Each province and territory in Canada is responsible for the adjustments of the minimum wage rate internally. Commonly, the minimum wage rate increases annually and is subject to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments. Despite this, the increases are not mandatory. Some provinces may keep their lowest wage requirements unchanged for a few years.
In 2022, eight provinces experienced the annual minimum wage increase. Alberta, Manitoba, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories remain unmodified this year.
Effective January 2022, Ontario’s minimum wage rate rose to $15.00 per hour. Newfoundland and Labrador previously had an increase in 2021 making their wage $12.75 per hour, now expecting another change in April this year rising to $13.20 per hour. More provinces are expecting increases in April 2022: Nova Scotia – $13.35 per hour; Prince Edward Island – $13.70 per hour; New Brunswick – $12.75 per hour [1].
Some provinces are yet to experience their first or second increase of the year. British Columbia is expecting an increase to $15.65 in June 2022. Quebec’s minimum wage is rising to $14.25 this May. Yukon is adjusting the lowest rate requirement to $15.70 per hour in August, while New Brunswick will have the second increase of the year in October raising the wage to $13.75 per hour [1].
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DID YOU KNOW?
The federal minimum wage in Canada will increase to $15.55 per hour in April 2022 [5].
Data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a survey that collects labor-market and demographic information, are used to determine minimum wage trends [4].
Current and Upcoming Minimum Wage Rates for Adult Workers in 2022 [1]
Province/Territory
Current Min Wage Rate
Increase Expected in 2022
The minimum wage rates in the table above apply to experienced adult workers under the jurisdiction of each province and territory in Canada. These wages generally apply to the majority of the population in each area. As mentioned previously, there are certain exceptions that apply to inexperienced workers, students, or workers of special occupations. Similarly to how the USA has different wage requirements for students and tipped workers. Below is the table depicting general current and upcoming minimum wage rates for young workers and specific occupations in 2022.
Province
Minimum Wage Exceptions Applicable to Young Workers and Special Occupations
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