The amount a full-time worker needs to earn to comfortably afford to live in midwestern Ontario has risen.
New figures from the Ontario Living Wage Network show the living wage for the region has increased 15 cents from last year to $24.75 an hour. That is considerably higher than the current provincial minimum wage, which is $17.95 per hour.
Jill Umbach, Coordinator of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force, says housing remains the largest expense for people, representing 36 per cent of living costs for workers. She adds that there are other cost factors when looking into the cost of living, which only looks at rentals, not buying a home.
"It also includes things like your rental insurance and utilities. So that's also the cost that goes into that 36 per cent in the costing when we're looking at that," Umbach detailed.
The report from United Way and the Ontario Living Wage Network states that the increase to the living wage in the region "reflects the continued financial pressures facing individuals and families as they manage the costs of housing, groceries, transportation, childcare and other everyday necessities."
A living wage represents the hourly income required for a full-time worker to cover essential expenses and maintain a modest standard of living in the community where they live. It does not factor in any luxuries, like vacations.
Another massive cost issue for workers lately is the ongoing rise in food costs. Umbach noted food accounts for 15 per cent of the cost for someone making a living wage, and food programs everywhere are seeing huge spikes in new users.
"With programs like OSHaRE, the Grey-Bruce Food Share, our Salvation Armies and the more than 27 community food programs, including food banks, there is a significant demand for food. We've seen high, high numbers of families accessing these that are working full-time," she said.
The breakdown of living costs includes:
-36 per cent for shelter, including insurance and utilities
-29 per cent for other household necessities and expenses
-15 per cent for food
-13 per cent for childcare
-12 per cent for transportation
Umbach said with so many people in the region, which has the second highest cost of living in Ontario, not making that wage, it causes strain on the employees and community support programs.
"A lot of people get blamed for not budgeting well. Well, you can't really budget well when you don't have enough money to cover the basic costs. So that's also, throughout Living Wage Week, something we want to look at, the precarious work in this area," she noted.
The United Way of Bruce Grey acknowledges in the report that businesses, particularly smaller employers, face their own financial pressures. Umbach said tariffs and rising costs of doing business are factors that are affecting employers and their ability to pay living wages.
"They are struggling to stay, struggling to keep their employees employed, and we want that to happen but we need to start pushing the question onto some of the larger employers and ask why they're not paying their employees a living wage," Umbach added. "Employers who commit to paying a living wage report better morale, lower turnover, and stronger loyalty among their staff. We encourage more local businesses to step forward and join the network of certified living wage employers making a real difference."
"A living wage is about more than just making ends meet. It is about ensuring that people who work in our communities can afford to live in them," shared Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director of United Way of Bruce Grey. "We continue to see the pressures that housing, food and transportation costs place on individuals and families across Bruce and Grey counties. When workers earn enough to meet their basic needs, it benefits not only their households but also the local businesses and communities that depend on them."
November 9 to 13 marks Living Wage Week across Ontario, recognizing employers who have committed to paying their employees a living wage and encouraging greater awareness of the connection between wages, affordability and community well-being.
"Making our communities more livable is an ongoing effort, even in challenging economic times," added Ryan Erb, CEO of United Way Perth Huron. "The gap between the minimum and living wage continues to grow. We have to keep talking about the importance of a living wage in the overall health of our region while recognizing the pressures small businesses are under."
For more information about the 2026 living wage calculations, certified employers and the Ontario Living Wage Network, visit www.ontariolivingwage.ca.
