One of those perpetual discussion points in the world of business is the minimum wage. Arguments are advanced on both sides: how high is high enough? Should it be two-tiered? And who is at this level anyway?
In a bid to answer some of those questions, StatsCan has conducted an examination of minimum wage earners in this country over a 20-year period ending in 2018. So it is fairly comprehensive.
Here are a couple of the major takeaways: recessions and the subsequent job losses tend to increase the number of people on minimum wage. The difference between those who are currently earning this rate and those in 1998 is that today’s earners are more likely to be over 24, live in an urban environment, work in a large firm and likely in retail.
There are fewer earning minimum wage today and virtually all of the change came in Ontario where the rate went up.
And, lastly, the minimum wage is going up faster in this country than general wage rates so they are getting ahead.
