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Over 25% of employed Lethbridge residents were earning less then $15 per hour

Posted by on 19 June 2012 at 22:56 • Categorized as Business
Last modified: 19 June 2012 at 22:56

According to Statistics Canada for the calendar year ending March 2012:

  • Out of the 43,300 people who are employed in Lethbridge, 10,900 (25%) make under $15 per hour.
  • Out of the 10,900 low earners, 7700 (70%) earn under $13 per hour. Women represent the majority of low earners with 5900 (54%)
  • 9100 (83.5%) of the people who are classified as low earners are in their prime earning years, which are between 20 and 45 years of age.
  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AK43WIXLVMM4MULFYUXZ6U43AQ Mickey

    generally pay here in southern Alberta is much lower than in other regions

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1185907398 Willemina Mulder

    I earn less then $15/hr in a unionized job!

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  • hitman73

    Lethbridge is horrible for rates of pay.  And trying to get a pay increase anywhere here, it’s like pulling teeth.  Everyone wants you to work for slave wages around, and expects everyone to be happy about it.  Been at my job for going on 2 years, and got a 50 cent raise in that time.  I don’t get why people are so damn cheap around here.  Honestly glad to be getting out of this go nowhere, lack of any opportunity city of lost wages.  Be a blessing to get out of this place.

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    • http://www.hotpepper.ca Kim Siever

      I had to go to Raymond for my current job. In 7 months, I have already received an 11% pay increase, way better than any of the raises I ever received in the 9 years I worked at the U of L.

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      • hitman73

        It’s really sad.  Doesn’t matter how hard, or how much you work….You sure don’t get paid anywhere near what you deserve, especially considering how much gas is, and everything else around here.  When my wife found a job in Edmonton, I welcomed that and am very excited for the new opportunities away from Lethbridge.  See along with the crap wages, nobody hires here.  Everyone has their signs up, and has listings that they’re looking for people…..But for every 50 resumes you put out….You’re lucky to get one call.  When I was out of work, I put out something like 70 resumes around here and got no calls.  Instead I got my job through a friend.  And the only jobs that are readily available around here are at the 20 billion restaurants….and they pay horribly.

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        • http://www.hotpepper.ca Kim Siever

          I spent 7 years applying for jobs, and never received a single job offer.

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          • http://twitter.com/cannablogDOTca Cannablog

            I’m sorry but 7 years…. Seems like a sob story to me. Jobs are there. No matter what there is always going to be occupations with lower wages. If you have been applying for work for 7 years and had no offers your doing something wrong. Change your resume or something. There is always option; but hey,  I guess complaining about personal situations on a message board is more proactive then looking for solutions to your employment problem.

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          • http://www.hotpepper.ca Kim Siever

            You have a pretty liberal definition of “complaining” if you thought I was complaining in my comment.

            Regardless, I have a job, and I did find a solution. I stopped applying for jobs. The last three jobs I have/had weren’t advertised. I contacted companies I thought might have openings in the field I wanted to work. The last one custom built a position around my skills and experience.

            Next time you want to jump down someone’s throat, get all the facts. Making a lot of assumptions make your arguments look stupid.

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  • Hanon83

    Does anyone consider that cost of living here is lower? That we are an agriculture based economy in Southern Alberta and that keeps wages lower? That some employers in South Alta experienced a delayed recession and are still recovering? I’m also interested to know what education levels the above posters have obtained. What skills and education do you bring to the table? I agree Lethbridge can be a difficult place to make a living and the wages do tend to be lower than the rest of the province, but if you work hard and get an education you will succeed no matter where you are.

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    • http://www.hotpepper.ca Kim Siever

      I have a college diploma and have one semester left before I finish my university degree. For what it’s worth, I have never had a job where I have been hired based on education. Even the one where I made over $50K a year.

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    • http://www.hotpepper.ca Kim Siever

      I have a college diploma and have one semester left before I finish my university degree. For what it’s worth, I have never had a job where I have been hired based on education. Even the one where I made over $50K a year.

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