The calculation for the living wage assumes that each adult works full-time, and it prepares for unexpected costs such as continuing education, child care and more. (Photo: LNN)

By Joel Mendelson

Lethbridge among most affordable Alberta cities

Nov 8, 2023 | 11:32 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Alberta Living Wage Network (ALWN) has released new living wages for 2023. ALWN collaborated with 16 municipalities across Alberta to uncover these statistics.

Living wage is defined as the hourly wage a worker needs to earn to cover their basic expenses and have a modest standard of living after taking taxes into account. It is based on full time work, which requires either 35 hours weekly, or 1,800 hours yearly.

The metric accounts for three types of households: a two-parent family with two young children; a single parent with one child; and a lone individual.

The calculation assumes that each adult works full-time, and it prepares for unexpected costs such as continuing education, child care and more.

The living wage in Lethbridge for 2023 is $20.60/hour, up $0.30 from 2022.

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READ MORE: What’s the living wage in Lethbridge?

The following list shows the living wage of each participating Alberta city in ascending order according to ALWN:

• Medicine Hat: $17.35
• Red Deer: $18.75
• Grand Prairie: $18.90
• Brooks: $19.05
• Drayton Valley: $19.55
• Lethbridge: $20.60
• Spruce Grove: $21.00
• Stony Plain: $21.10
• Lac La Biche County: $21.60
• High River: $21.70
• Edmonton: $22.25
• Calgary: $23.70
• St. Albert: $23.80
• Fort McMurray: $24.50
• Jasper: $24.90
• Canmore: $38.80

Ryan Lacanilao is the coordinator of ALWN. He said, “Despite increasing costs on just about everything – particularly shelter – we did see some things that put downward pressure on the living wages.”

Lacanilao continued, “Government affordability measures and the Canada Dental Benefit have helped families. What’s missing in Alberta is any real action on increasing minimum wage despite every single other province making increases.”

These findings are released to encourage local employers to become a certified Living Wage Employer. This requires businesses to pay their direct staff and indirect staff at least the living wage rate for their given community.

According to ALWN, paying employees a living wage benefits both the staff and employer. The network said it helps build a strong economy, reduce poverty and aids employee retention, which lowers the need for recruitment and training.

There are currently over one hundred Living Wage Employers across Alberta.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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