Percentage of the workforce earning minimum wage dropped from 5.7 per cent in 1997 to four per cent in 2003: Statistics Canada
The percentage of Canadians working at or below the minimum wage dropped between 1997 and 2003, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada.
Four per cent of the workforce, or 547,000 people, worked at or below the minimum wage in 2003, down from 5.7 per cent in 1997.
Across the country, though, the number of workers earning minimum wage varied wildly from a low of 1.1 per cent of the workforce in Alberta to 8.5 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador. Minimum wage rates ranged from a low of $5.90 per hour in Alberta to a high of $8 per hour in British Columbia.
Minimum wage earners more likely to be women
Overall, individuals working at or below the minimum wage were likely to be women, young people, students and part-time workers. Some were working to finance their education or support their families while others were older workers looking to supplement their pension.
But some 27,000 heads of family with no spouse were working for minimum wage or less. Although they made up only five per cent of all minimum-wage workers, almost all had at least one child under the age of 18 to support. In addition, some 31,000 minimum-wage workers had a spouse who was not employed.
Women accounted for almost two-thirds of minimum wage workers in 2003, yet they made up just under half of employees, hence their higher rate. One in 20 women worked for minimum wage, compared with one in 35 men.
Younger workers more likely to earn minimum wage
Individuals aged 24 and under were eight times as likely to be minimum wage workers as those over 24, according to Statistics Canada.
Teens between the ages of 15 and 19 had by far the highest rate of all groups — almost one in three. In fact, nearly half of minimum-wage workers were aged 15 to 19 with more than 75 per cent of these attending school either part or full time. Another 15 per cent were aged between 20 and 24, four out of 10 of whom were students.
Statistics Canada said this prevalence among teenagers and young adults reflects characteristics associated with minimum-wage work, such as lower levels of education, service-sector jobs, part-time work and shorter job tenure.
Minimum wage earners less educated
About 41 per cent of all minimum wage workers did not have a high school diploma, compared with only 15 per cent of all employees. This would explain the high rates of minimum wage work among young people, many of whom have not yet completed their studies, Statistics Canada said.
Almost all minimum-wage workers were employed in accommodation and food services or retail trade, industries characterized by high concentrations of youth, part-time workers and women.
The incidence of working for minimum wage was highest among workers in small firms. This likely stems from the lower unionization rates and weaker bargaining power found in smaller firms. Only eight per cent of minimum-wage workers were covered by a collective agreement, compared with 32 per cent of all employees.
Four per cent of the workforce, or 547,000 people, worked at or below the minimum wage in 2003, down from 5.7 per cent in 1997.
Across the country, though, the number of workers earning minimum wage varied wildly from a low of 1.1 per cent of the workforce in Alberta to 8.5 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador. Minimum wage rates ranged from a low of $5.90 per hour in Alberta to a high of $8 per hour in British Columbia.
Minimum wage earners more likely to be women
Overall, individuals working at or below the minimum wage were likely to be women, young people, students and part-time workers. Some were working to finance their education or support their families while others were older workers looking to supplement their pension.
But some 27,000 heads of family with no spouse were working for minimum wage or less. Although they made up only five per cent of all minimum-wage workers, almost all had at least one child under the age of 18 to support. In addition, some 31,000 minimum-wage workers had a spouse who was not employed.
Women accounted for almost two-thirds of minimum wage workers in 2003, yet they made up just under half of employees, hence their higher rate. One in 20 women worked for minimum wage, compared with one in 35 men.
Younger workers more likely to earn minimum wage
Individuals aged 24 and under were eight times as likely to be minimum wage workers as those over 24, according to Statistics Canada.
Teens between the ages of 15 and 19 had by far the highest rate of all groups — almost one in three. In fact, nearly half of minimum-wage workers were aged 15 to 19 with more than 75 per cent of these attending school either part or full time. Another 15 per cent were aged between 20 and 24, four out of 10 of whom were students.
Statistics Canada said this prevalence among teenagers and young adults reflects characteristics associated with minimum-wage work, such as lower levels of education, service-sector jobs, part-time work and shorter job tenure.
Minimum wage earners less educated
About 41 per cent of all minimum wage workers did not have a high school diploma, compared with only 15 per cent of all employees. This would explain the high rates of minimum wage work among young people, many of whom have not yet completed their studies, Statistics Canada said.
Almost all minimum-wage workers were employed in accommodation and food services or retail trade, industries characterized by high concentrations of youth, part-time workers and women.
The incidence of working for minimum wage was highest among workers in small firms. This likely stems from the lower unionization rates and weaker bargaining power found in smaller firms. Only eight per cent of minimum-wage workers were covered by a collective agreement, compared with 32 per cent of all employees.
