An annual calculation of living wages in B.C. cities has seen Kamloops’ jump the most, up 13 percent from last year to $23.69.

The living wage is the hourly rate a family of four with two working parents must earn to support themselves, based on the actual costs of living in a city. It includes actual costs of food, clothing, rental housing, childcare, transportation and funding an emergency savings account.

Since 2021, when the living wage was set at $16.71 per hour, Kamloops’ living wage has increased by nearly $7. The most recent increase, by 13 percent, was the highest amongst all B.C. cities in 2024.

Overall, 17 other locales saw higher living wages in this year’s calculation, including Kelowna at $25.77, Victoria at $26.78, and Whistler, at the top of the list, with a living wage of $28.09.

“Hundreds of thousands of B.C. workers earn less than the living wage and face impossible choices like buy groceries or heat the house, keep up with bills or pay the rent on time,” said Anastasia French, provincial manager of Living Wage B.C., who calculated the wage in conjunction with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

French said B.C. has more than 450 certified employers who pay at least the living wage.

B.C.’s minimum wage of $17.40 doesn’t meet the living wage in any city, including Grand Forks, which has the lowest living wage in the province at $20.81.

“It’s probably shocking for people to actually see the amount, but the reality is people have already been feeling it and are well aware,” said Lois Rugg, president of the Kamloops and District Labour Council.

Rugg said many employers cannot or will not pay the living wage, but that if they did, there would be a number of benefits, including more commitment to employers and higher morale, as well as broader economic benefits.

“If they can reach that level, employees can spend more of their income on not just the necessities, but hopefully some of those extras, and support local businesses and all that,” Rugg said.

Pointing to higher costs of transportation, Rugg said overall improvements, such as better transit, would help to bring Kamloops’ living wage down.

“If Kamloops had similar transit services to the Lower Mainland, it would probably reduce it by $2 per hour,” she said.

Rugg said even though unions around Kamloops are keeping up with the living wage, many are still struggling with big necessary costs like housing and groceries.

“We’re working on it, but I think some are still falling a little bit behind,” she said.

Rugg said all levels of government need to play a larger role in helping smaller businesses, and should also ensure they, themselves, are paying a living wage.

Across all industries, Canada has seen a slight uptick in unionization over the past five years, from 29.8 percent in 2019 to 30.4 per cent in 2023, according to Statistics Canada.

Rugg said there has been greater interest in unionizing amongst younger workers, especially those in the service industry.

“I think the trend is on the rise. We went through a lull for a few years, but I feel like there is a rise and larger support and understanding of why we need to stand together,” she said.