Photo By Claire McCormack
The United Way of Bruce Grey is out with its annual living wage calculation — and it’s increased by nearly 10 per cent this year.
The new living wage for the Grey Bruce region is now $22.75. That’s the figure the United Way says is needed by residents who work a 40-hour week to make ends meet.
The report looked at three demographics in the area to generate a standardized living wage. A single person will need to earn $23.01, a single parent with two children will need to earn $27.20, and two parents will booth need to earn $22 if they have two children.
“The most significant driver for the increase has been the cost of housing and the lack of local employment transportation. The recent inflationary issues for food and other consumable costs also has had a significant impact upon the calculation,” says United Way of Bruce-Grey executive director Francesca Dobbyn.
Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force coordinator Jill Umbach adds the rising cost of food is only the “tip of the affordability iceberg” for those in lower-income households.
“Limited financial resources and housing costs that are well over the affordability threshold of 30 per cent of one’s income means those living with low incomes are less likely to be able to manage food inflation and more likely to experience food insecurity,” says Umbach.
When asked if this increase is feasible for employers to meet, Dobbyn says it’s up to individual businesses.
“There is certainly opportunities, we definitely know for small businesses and mom and pop shops this can be kind of scary in terms of a number,” says Dobbyn.
She says this report is more of a way to start a conversation around the living wage.
“We would love to have employers certified as living wage employers locally,” Dobbyn says. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase to employees that you are a great employer, that you are supportive employer and you understand the needs of your staff.”
She adds some of the the benefits for businesses which pay a living wage are reduced recruitment costs, reduced training costs, better morale, employees do not have to hold down multiple jobs to make ends meet, less fatigue, increase productivity, and joining the over 500 certified living wage employers in the province.
More details on how to become a living wage employer can be found on the Ontario Living Wage Network website here.