Ontario’s minimum wage is set to increase to $17.60 per hour on Oct. 1, 2025, as part of the province’s annual inflation adjustment.
The 40-cent increase, up from the current $17.20 per hour, is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks changes in the cost of living.
The Ontario government says the wage adjustment ensures fair pay while supporting both workers and businesses.
“Our government will continue to have the backs of Ontario workers, investing in skills training and development and helping ensure that work pays,” said David Piccini, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development.
A full-time worker earning the new minimum wage will see an annual pay increase of up to $835. The province noted that Ontario’s minimum wage will remain the second highest in Canada following this adjustment.
According to government data, about 36 per cent of minimum wage earners work in retail, while 24 per cent are employed in accommodation and food services.
The province has gradually increased the minimum wage from $14 per hour in 2018 to $17.60 in 2025.
The increase aligns with Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, which mandates annual minimum wage adjustments based on inflation. The government said it will continue monitoring labour market conditions to ensure fair pay for workers across the province.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)