Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is lowering its average premium rate for 2027, which the province says will save employers a total of $160 million.
The average rate will drop from $1.23 to $1.18 per $100 of insurable payroll on Jan. 1 for more than 80 per cent of premium-paying businesses. The rate was $2.35 in 2018. The province says Ontario’s average rate is now nearly 30 per cent below the national average, and that it has returned $4 billion in WSIB rebates to eligible safe businesses since 2024.
Eligible businesses will be able to see their individual 2027 premium rate statements through WSIB online services starting in November.
“When businesses can invest in their workers, it creates more opportunity and greater stability for families and communities,” said Trevor Jones, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development and MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. “By lowering costs, we’re helping Ontario businesses become more competitive and invest in the people who drive their success. This WSIB rate reduction gives employers more room to strengthen their teams, create safer workplaces and grow their businesses, supporting good-paying jobs across the province.”
Jeffery Lang, the WSIB’s president and CEO, said the board has improved results for people and reduced administrative costs.
“We’ve been able to improve results for people and reduce administrative costs, and that means more money can stay in Ontario’s economy,” Lang said. “We’re able to help people recover and return to work while also helping over 80 per cent of businesses to receive a rate cut.”
Associate Minister of Small Business Nina Tangri said the cut will give small business owners additional relief as they deal with U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty. Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli said it builds on $12 billion in annual cost-saving measures already in place.
The WSIB provides coverage for about 5.6 million workers across more than 330,000 insured businesses and workplaces in Ontario.
