2017 Low Wage Report
Public Interest Alberta obtained the following low-wage earner statistics from Statistics Canada's monthly Labour Force Survey. They indicate the average number of employed Albertans in each category for the year ending June 30, 2017. The minimum wage will increase from $12.20 per hour to $13.60 per hour on October 1, 2017.
Nearly one in five employed Albertans are low-wage workers.
- 343,500 of 1,895,000 employed Albertans earn $15 per hour or less (18.1%).
- 395,900 earn $16 per hour or less (20.9%).
- 221,600 earn the new minimum wage of $13.60 per hour or less (11.7%).
- 125,900 earn the minimum wage of $12.20 per hour (6.6%).
The majority of low-wage workers in Alberta are women.
- 206,300 low-wage workers are women (60.1%).
- 73,200 workers earning the minimum wage of $12.20 per hour are women (58.1%).
- 133,700 workers earning the new minimum wage of $13.60 per hour or less are women (60.3%).
More than three-quarters of low-wage workers are 20 years of age or older.
- 263,100 (76.6%) are 20 years of age or older.
- 191,200 (55.7%) are between 20 and 44 years old.
- 71,900 (20.9%) are 45 years of age or older.
Download our printable fact sheet
Read our media release showing what the data means for Albertans working in the province.
Regional fact sheets
- Athabasca - Grande Prairie - Peace River
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Lethbridge
- Medicine Hat
- Red Deer
- Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake
