July 14, 2025
Ontario increasing minimum wage to $17.60 per hour
The Ontario government is increasing the minimum wage from $17.20 to $17.60 per hour effective Oct. 1, 2025. Under the Employment Standards Act, Ontario’s minimum wage increases annually based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 2.4 per cent, a measure of inflation that represents changes in prices experienced by Ontario consumers. The latest wage increase will bring Ontario’s minimum wage to the second highest provincial rate in Canada.
The student minimum wage will also increase from $16.20 to $16.60 per hour. This applies to students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session or work during a school break or summer holidays.
The homeworkers minimum wage will increase from $18.90 to $19.35 per hour. Homeworkers are employees who do paid work in their own homes. Students employed as homeworkers must be paid the homeworker’s minimum wage.
“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. “Ontario’s minimum wage remains one of the highest in the country. Now more than ever, workers and businesses need fair, balanced and predictable wages.”
A worker making the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will see an annual pay increase of up to $835 as a result of these changes. Over the past seven years, Ontario’s minimum wage has increased from $14 per hour in 2018 to $17.60 in 2025.
The student minimum wage will also increase from $16.20 to $16.60 per hour. This applies to students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session or work during a school break or summer holidays.
The homeworkers minimum wage will increase from $18.90 to $19.35 per hour. Homeworkers are employees who do paid work in their own homes. Students employed as homeworkers must be paid the homeworker’s minimum wage.
“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. “Ontario’s minimum wage remains one of the highest in the country. Now more than ever, workers and businesses need fair, balanced and predictable wages.”
A worker making the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will see an annual pay increase of up to $835 as a result of these changes. Over the past seven years, Ontario’s minimum wage has increased from $14 per hour in 2018 to $17.60 in 2025.