Saskatchewan’s minimum wage is set to rise by 35 cents to $15.70/hr on October 1. The increase is based on the province's standard indexation formula, which calculates adjustments by averaging the changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the average hourly wage in Saskatchewan over the previous year. Even with this increase, the province will still have the third-lowest minimum wage in Canada, with only the lowest-earning workers in Alberta ($15/h) and New Brunswick ($15.65/h) being paid less.

If you're thinking "this has really jumped" it's not your imagination. Between 2022-2024, the province set aside the normal formula and made successive $1 increases to the minimum wage as an affordability measure for workers at a time of rising inflation.

The vast majority of Saskatoon business owners already pay above minimum wage. They also provide compensation and/or benefits over and above starting wages. About one-third will pass along the increase to their customers. All others will try to absorb the increase in their margins and/or try to find savings inside the business to offset the increase.