Nearly half of the employees in New Brunswick earned less than what it took to make ends meet, according to a snapshot released by the Human Development Council.
The report, based on 2024 data from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, found that 45 per cent of workers in the province were paid below the living wage of $24.62 an hour.
The council said the findings challenged the idea that low wages mainly affected students or part-time staff.
“These are not just part-time entry-level roles. They are often full-time, permanent positions held by adults,” said Randy Hatfield, executive director of the Human Development Council.
Most low-wage earners were adults over the age of 20, working full time in permanent positions.
At the same time, New Brunswick’s minimum wage remained at $15.65 — nearly $9 less than what the council defined as a basic standard of living.
Key findings from the report:
- Employees earning less than the living wage of $24.62 per hour made up 45 per cent of the workforce.
- Among low-wage workers aged 15 to 64, 89 per cent were not students.
- Workers who were 20 or older accounted for 89 per cent of those earning low wages.
- Those employed full time made up 75 per cent of the low-wage group.
- Permanent positions were held by 82 per cent of low-wage earners.
- Companies with 100 or more staff employed 55 per cent of workers earning low wages.
- Women represented 53 per cent of the province’s low-wage workforce.
The report also examined challenges facing young people who were not connected to work or education.
In 2024, 13 per cent of youth aged 15 to 29 in New Brunswick were not in employment, education or training, a group commonly referred to as NEET.
The council noted that this group faced a higher risk of long-term economic and social exclusion.
A follow-up living wage report is expected later this year.