Ontario is giving its lowest-paid workers a bit of a financial boost. The province is increasing its minimum wage this fall, aiming to help workers manage the rising cost of living and support a more predictable wage system tied to inflation.
Credit: Ontario Legislature
Starting October 1, 2025, the general minimum wage will rise from $17.20 to $17.60 per hour. For someone working full-time at 40 hours per week, that means an annual pay increase of up to $835. The wage increase is tied to the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), which rose by 2.4 per cent.
Alongside the general minimum wage increase, other wage categories in Ontario will also see adjustments starting October 1, 2025. The student minimum wage will rise to $16.60 per hour, while homeworkers will earn $19.35 per hour. For hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides, the updated rates will be $88.05 for working less than five consecutive hours and $176.15 for five or more hours in a day.
“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, announcing the increase.
“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.”
The increase follows recent legislation, including the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024, which introduced measures to improve access to skilled trades, support frontline workers, and remove employment barriers, particularly for women.
Currently, around 36% of workers earning $17.60 or less are employed in retail, while 24% work in accommodation and food services. This adjustment continues a trend that has seen Ontario’s minimum wage rise from $14 in 2018 to its current level, aiming to keep pace with the cost of living.
Minimum Wage rates in Ontario from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026:
- General minimum wage: $17.60 per hour
- Student minimum wage: $16.60 per hour
- Hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides minimum wage:
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- $88.05 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day
- $176.15 for working five or more hours, whether or not the hours are consecutive
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- Homeworkers minimum wage: $19.35 per hour