Ontario Announces Minimum Wage Increase to $17.60 Effective October 1, 2025

The Ontario government has announced that the province’s general minimum wage will rise from $17.20 to $17.60 per hour, effective October 1, 2025. This 2.4% increase aligns with the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI) and positions Ontario with the second-highest provincial minimum wage in Canada. ​

Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, David Piccini, emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting both workers and businesses. “Our government will continue to have the backs of Ontario workers, investing in skills training and development and helping ensure that work pays,” Piccini stated. “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.” ​

For a full-time worker earning the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week, this adjustment translates to an annual pay increase of approximately $835. ​Ontario Newsroom

The increase will also affect specific groups:​

• Student Minimum Wage: Rising to $16.60 per hour. This rate applies to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or fewer during the school term or who work during school breaks or summer holidays.

• Hunting, Fishing, and Wilderness Guides: Daily rates will increase to $88.05 for those working fewer than five consecutive hours and $176.15 for those working five or more hours in a day, whether or not the hours are consecutive.

• Homeworkers: Individuals who perform paid work from their residence will see their minimum wage rise to $19.35 per hour.

This wage adjustment is part of Ontario’s ongoing efforts to support workers. In December 2024, the province passed the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024, which introduced measures such as unpaid parental leave for employees becoming parents through adoption or surrogacy, and codified long-term illness leave for those with serious medical conditions.

Despite these initiatives, some labor advocates argue that the increase may not be sufficient to keep pace with the rising cost of living in Ontario. They continue to call for more substantial wage hikes and additional measures to support low-income workers.​

As the October implementation date approaches, businesses and employees are advised to prepare for the upcoming changes to ensure compliance and to understand the impact on their operations and livelihoods.​