With the minimum wage in Ontario set to increase significantly by +6.7% in October, we’re seeing many clients in this high inflation environment budgeting for increases of between 3% to 5% (or more) — much higher than the historical average of 1.5 to 3.0%. Hourly wages increased on average by 4.0% in 2022, compared to the historical pre-pandemic average of 2.5% (+/-).  2023 is not over but early data suggests wages at the macro-level could increase at a higher pace again this year than the historical norm (following a CPI increase last year of +6.7% – which is why the Ontario minimum wage is going up by that amount in October – it is tied to the annual CPI measurement).  Hopefully inflation will cool but current trends are not yet supporting that view (July CPI was 3.3% vs the same month last year, though economists were predicting it would be lower, at 3.0%).

“Entry level” staff seem to be the most difficult to attract and retain right now and it remains to be seen if a higher minimum wage in October will address this shortage.  Not unlike in 2018 when the provincial government increased the minimum wage to $14 (from $11.40), there was a huge cost-crunch for employers that also threw off the internal equilibrium in many organizations with lower-wage workers making as much as more skilled workers due to the sudden jump.  This will occur again — to a lesser degree (compression between lower paid staff and mid-range employees).

At a very general level, our advice presently is to look at salary budgets of 3% as a floor if you can absorb it and 5% (or more) may be required in some categories to keep internal-equity in balance after the October hike to the minimum wage (we are also mindful that these above-average recommendations themselves continue to contribute to the inflation we are all experiencing). We are told that inflation will cool this year and next, and if that holds true, we should see increases reduce to the 2-3% range again. Time will tell.