A living wage is the hourly wage that two adults, working full-time, must make to support the basic expenses of a family of four, once government taxes, credits, deductions, and subsidies are considered. It is different from, and usually higher than, the minimum wage, which is the legal minimum that employers must pay. It does not include debt repayment or savings for future plans.
What’s New?
Working in conjunction with Living Wage BC and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives BC Office (CCPA-BC) the living wage on the Sunshine Coast is now estimated to be $26.42 per hour, which is a 3.16 per cent increase ($0.80) from 2023, the 2024 Living Wage Update report shows.
The financial relief provided by government measures, such as affordable childcare programs and increases in income-tested benefits, was intended to help offset rising costs, but is outpaced by the rising cost of essentials, like rent, food, and transportation.
“Rent has been the most expensive item in the living wage family budget since the calculation was first produced, and this year is no exception,” says Iglika Ivanova, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, BC Office senior economist and the report’s lead author.
For more information, read our full 2024 living wage update here.
Previous living wage updates are available here:
2023
2022
2021
