Financial strain forcing many to take on multiple jobs to keep up with expenses
A significant portion of Metro Vancouver’s workforce is struggling to afford basic necessities, with one in three workers earning less than what is considered a living wage, according to a report.
The findings come amid ongoing economic uncertainty and new tariffs imposed as part of the U.S.-Canada trade dispute.
Anastasia French, managing director of Living Wage BC, told CityNews that the living wage for Metro Vancouver is now $27.05 per hour. Despite this benchmark, many workers in the region fall short, with women and racialized workers facing the greatest challenges.
“Half of all racialized women in Metro Vancouver don’t earn enough of an income that means they can afford to pay the bills,” French said.
Some provinces have announced minimum wage increases earlier this year.
‘EI is below the living wage as well’
Living Wage BC defines “worker” broadly, including anyone with a job, not just those earning minimum wage, according to the CityNews report.
Many individuals in sectors such as food service, construction, and entry-level office positions are paid less than the living wage. In fact, one in five workers in Metro Vancouver earn less than $20 per hour, well below the threshold for covering essential expenses.
Although British Columbia’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.6 per cent in June, French pointed out that employment insurance payments are also insufficient to meet the region’s high cost of living.
“EI is below the living wage as well, depending on how much you contributed in… so if you’re unemployed, times are even tougher,” she told CityNews.
The affordability crisis is not limited to families; single people living alone are also at high risk, with one in three experiencing poverty. French noted that government benefits have largely focused on families with children, leaving single adults and seniors with fewer supports.
The financial strain is forcing many to take on multiple jobs, sometimes three or four, just to keep up with expenses. French said that healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, and protein are increasingly out of reach for many, and some are forced to make difficult choices about what they can afford to eat.
Rising costs are also prompting a growing number of British Columbians to leave the province for more affordable regions. According to CityNews, nearly 13,000 people moved out of B.C. in the third quarter of 2024, with most heading to Alberta.
French urged both provincial and federal governments to take more action to address the affordability crisis, including protecting renters, supporting local food producers, and investing in affordable housing and public transit. She also highlighted the mental health toll of financial stress, with many workers reporting feelings of isolation and anxiety.
Living wages should not be a "one-size-fits-all approach" and should reflect local and regional differences between nations, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) previously said.
