As part of Living Wage Week, running November 10 to 14, United Way Perth-Huron and the Ontario Living Wage Network announce the region’s new living wage of $24.60 an hour, up from $23.05 last year.

“Making our communities more livable is an ongoing effort,” said United Way Executive Director, Ryan Erb. “Unfortunately, shelter costs continue to be a major driver of the increase to the living wage rate locally, as are the higher costs of transportation in rural communities like ours.”

A living wage shows how much a worker must earn to make ends meet and enjoy modest participation in the community. The calculations gather expenses for three types of households:

two adults supporting two small children, a single parent with one child, and a single adult. Results are aggregated and include any applicable government taxes, transfers and benefits.

“We must remain committed to ensuring workers can afford to live in our communities,” added Erb. “That’s why it’s critical for our collective well-being to continue having conversations with employers about paying a living wage instead of looking to the minimum wage as a guide.

“To illustrate the difference, if a person has a full-time job paying minimum wage, even with October’s increase workers would be left $245 short every week. That’s an impossible situation. If nobody can afford to live here, how will our communities sustain themselves? We owe it to ourselves to ensure the places we live can thrive, not just survive. A living wage is part of that.”

For more information about the living wage, including how businesses can certify, GO HERE.