Inflation continues to drive up living wages in New Brunswick, according to a new report from the Human Development Council.
The living wage now stands at $25.88 per hour in Fredericton, an increase of $1.38 from a year earlier.
Moncton and Saint John have a living wage of $24.07, an increase of $1.32 in Moncton and $0.72 in Saint John.
For the first time this year, the council calculated an overall provincial living wage, which stands at $24.62 per hour.
The living wage represents the hourly earnings needed by two working parents with two young kids to meet basic expenses.
“Many families in the province earn less than a living wage and struggle to make ends meet,” said Randy Hatfield, executive director of the Human Development Council.
“While we are not advocating for the living wage to become the minimum wage, the data supports the need for an increase.”
New Brunswick’s minimum wage currently stands at $15.30 per hour, which Hatfield said is the fourth lowest in Canada.
Officials said while this year’s living wage increase is less sharp than last year, the cost of living remains high, with shelter being the largest expense.
Without more income support and programs for working families, the council said living wages will continue to rise in tandem with the cost of living.
