Saskatchewan minimum wage going up 35 cents in October to $15.35

Saskatchewan’s lowest earners will be earning a little bit more this fall.

According to the provincial government, Saskatchewan’s minimum wage will increase from $15 per hour to $15.35 per hour, effective on October 1.

The government said it calculates its minimum wage based on an indexation formula, and noted that the minimum wage will have risen by 93 per cent since 2007 after the latest hike takes effect, when it sat at $7.95 per hour.

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But, even after the increase, Saskatchewan’s minimum wage will still be the second lowest in the country.

According to data from the federal government, Saskatchewan and Alberta are currently tied for the lowest minimum wage at $15 per hour, followed by New Brunswick ($15.65), Nova Scotia ($15.70), and Manitoba ($15.80).

The highest minimum wage in the country can be found in Nunavut, where minimum wage earners take home $19 per hour. Among provinces, British Columbia boasts the highest minimum wage at $17.85.

“By raising the minimum wage, we are continuing to support workers and deliver on our commitment to affordability,” Jim Reiter, Saskatchewan’s minister of labour relations and workplace safety, said in a statement.

“We know the benefits that increasing the minimum wage will have for employees, but we also want to create a balance for employers.”

Reiter said the government will be working with chambers of commerce and “other key stakeholders” over the coming months, in order to better understand the implications of the increase on the business community and the provincial economy.

Saskatchewan’s previous minimum wage increase took effect on October 1, 2024, raising the wage from $14 per hour to its current level of $15 per hour.