Ontario is increasing the minimum wage from $17.20 to $17.60 an hour effective October 1, a change the province says will support more than 800,000 workers.
The 2.4 per cent annualized increase is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index and is intended to protect workers while maintaining competitiveness in the face of U.S. tariffs. The government said the increase will result in a worker earning the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week receiving an annual pay raise of more than $800.
“At a time when many families are feeling the pressure of global economic uncertainty, our government will protect Ontario workers with a minimum wage increase that supports our world-class workforce,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “We will continue to take action to build a strong, resilient workforce ready to face whatever comes our way.”
The province noted that under the Employment Standards Act, Ontario’s minimum wage increases annually based on the consumer price index, which measures changes in prices experienced by Ontario households. Specialized minimum wages for students, homeworkers, and hunting and fishing guides will also rise.
According to the province, about 36 per cent of workers earning at or below $17.60 per hour are employed in retail trade, while 23 per cent are in accommodation and food services.
Since 2018, Ontario’s minimum wage has increased from $14 per hour to $17.60, making it the second highest provincial rate in Canada.
The government said the increase is part of a broader plan to support workers. Since 2021, Ontario has invested $1.5 billion through the Skills Development Fund’s Training Stream and Capital Stream to help train more than one million workers for in-demand jobs. The 2025 budget, A Plan to Protect Ontario, added a further $1 billion investment over three years, bringing the fund’s total to $2.5 billion to support key industrial sectors and expand training opportunities.
