United Way of Perth-Huron, Social Research & Planning Council Logos
The living wage in Huron and Perth counties is now $20.70 an hour, according to the United Way Perth-Huron’s (UWPH) Social Research & Planning Council (SRPC).
The Perth-Huron living wage was calculated using local data and considered the living expenses of a weighted average of family types including: a family of four; a single mother supporting a seven-year-old child; and a single adult, once government transfers and deductions were taken into account.
The $20.70 hourly living wage is up considerably from the $17.95 hourly rate from one year ago, and much higher than the provincial minimum wage of $15.50.
“As we’re seeing, prices are increasing across the board. That means workers need to earn more to keep pace with economic pressures and to thrive, not just survive,” says Kristin Crane, director of Social Research & Planning.
“For workers in our region, if they’re relying on a job paying minimum wage, a person would be short about $728 per month as far as covering expenses. That’s a huge gap, and why the living wage is so important.”
Living Wage Week in Ontario runs Nov. 14th to 18th.