B.C. Minimum Wage increase to $17.85 on June 1

June 1 marks a 2.6 percent increase in the minimum wage, from the current $17.40 to $17.85 an hour.

The B.C. government says the increase is to help minimum-wage workers with ongoing inflation issues through the prices of everyday essentials.

"Minimum wage earners are vulnerable to jumps in the price of groceries, rent, and gas," said Jennifer Whiteside, the provincial government's Minister of Labour, in a February 2025 press release.

The last wage bump was in June 2024, to address poverty concerns within the province. In February of the same year, the Employment Standards Act was updated to increase wages based on the prior year's inflation rate in B.C.

The price of living in B.C. has been a long-standing concern. According to Vancity, there is a difference between a living wage, an amount that allows individuals to meet everyday needs, and a minimum wage. LivingWage B.C. announced in November 2024 that a realistic livable wage for those in the Metro Vancouver area would be $27.05 an hour.

In January 2025, CityNews reported that the Cost of Living in B.C. is expected to continue climbing this year, with a projection that food prices will grow from 3 to 5 percent. As of May 18, gas in the Lower Mainland averages 155.9 cents, and the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $2,500, according to Zumper.

While increasing the minimum wage is valuable and offers relief, advocates like LivingWage B.C. argue that a living wage should be adopted as prices rise.