Living wage for people in Lethbridge has surpassed $20 an hour, according to the Alberta Living Wage Network (ALWN). It released updated numbers for 2022 in the second year since its launch and found Lethbridge is sitting at $20.30 an hour — Calgary is at $22.40 and Edmonton is sitting at $21.40.
The network says the intent of the report is not to add stress onto businesses during record high inflation, but to highlight the reality of the cost of living for workers in the province.
The report calculates the cost to maintain a modest standard of living once government transfers are added and tax is deducted and the network says it includes more than basic needs of food, clothing and shelter — it also accounts for unexpected costs and things like small investments in education, child care and being a part of the community.
The ALWN is a network of community organizations and municipalities that share a goal to advance a coordinated living wage movement in the province. It helps communities calculate living wage and provides certification to living wage employers.
“The collective effort of network council members, staff, certified employers and the financial support of The Calgary Foundation and The Greater Edmonton Foundation has resulted in a very successful first year of the network. This progress would not be possible without the engagement of the 16 community members of the network and the 75 living wage employers certified this year,” says Franco Savoia, chair of ALWN.
Living wage is defined as the hourly pay needed to cover basic expenses and participate in the community. The ALWN says it adjusted the calculations to better reflect the reality of Albertans in three different household types; two parent families with two young children, a lone parent with one child and a single person living alone. The numbers assume each adult in a household is working full time hours.
The highest living wage in the province is Canmore at $32.75, according to the report. The lowest is Medicine Hat at $17.50. The report include 15 communities.