The wage working adults must earn to support a family of four continues to go up, but not quite as fast in Nanaimo as others areas across B.C. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

FOR ONLY ESSENTIALS

Nanaimo’s living wage sees 4 per cent increase

Nov 22, 2024 | 11:46 AM

NANAIMO — It’s a smaller jump than in recent years, but the cost of living still continues to rise on the central Island.

New data from Living Wage BC shows the hourly wage two adults must each earn to support a family of four in Nanaimo is $23.29, a four per cent increase from $22.87 in 2023.

Anastasia French from the organization which tracks costs and wages province-wide, said the hourly amount is just for people to scrape by and cover their basic necessities.

“It is a bare-bones budget, it doesn’t include things like paying off debt, savings for retirement or paying for Taylor Swift tickets or any luxuries like that. Everywhere across British Columbia, the living wage has continued to go up because the cost of housing and food continues to increase.”

Nanaimo’s rate has risen dramatically over recent years.

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The required hourly wage was $16.33 in 2021, but has since risen 45 per cent over the last three years.

In 2022, two adults both needed to earn $20.49 to support a family of four.

Rising rent and food costs are the main drivers in Nanaimo and across the province.

A survey of communities across the province showed what hourly wage was required for people to just afford the basics. (Living Wage BC)

Of the 25 municipalities surveyed by Living Wage BC, Whistler was the most expensive at $28.09, followed by Tofino ($27.42), and Metro Vancouver $27.05).

Victoria was the most expensive major centre on Vancouver Island at $26.78 an hour, followed by the Cowichan Valley at $25.71 and the Comox Valley and Port Hardy both over $24.30.

Grand Forks was B.C.’s most cost-effective surveyed city at $20.81.

French said one in three workers in B.C. does not earn a living wage, with the current minimum wage of $17.40 falling well short.

“We also need government to look at what they offer in benefits for low-wage workers, as well as doing things like improving transit. If we improve transit…so actually people use transit to get to work and didn’t use a car, that would lower the living wage by $2.”

French also said recent moves for more cost-friendly childcare options have helped.

She added hundreds of employers across the province pay their workers a living wage, enabling many obvious benefits for employees and businesses.

“All of these employers do it because they know it’s the right thing to do, they want to make sure their staff can pay for rent and food and other essentials. But they’ve also found real benefit from paying their workers a living wage, it’s helped lower staff turnover, helped improve retention.”

More information about Living Wage BC is available on their website.

— with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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