Social Well-Being Indicator Tracker

Our social well-being indicators are based on social determinants of health. These indicators are the economic and social conditions that shape the health of individuals and communities. Social determinants of health also determine the extent to which a person possesses the physical, social, and personal resources to identify and achieve personal aspirations, satisfy needs, and cope with the environment. Social determinants of health are about the quantity and quality of a variety of resources that society makes available to its members. Important considerations include both the quality and their distribution amongst the population.

BCCost of Living Indicators

SHORT TERM

LONG TERM

TREND ANALYSIS

BC3 Edmonton Hourly Living Wage

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DOWNWARD

NEGATIVE

BC3 Edmonton Hourly Living Wage

BCCost of Living Indicators

BCCost of Living Indicators Menu

  • The living wage is the hourly wage one must make to provide the basic necessities and fully participate in their communities.
  • The living wage is calculated as the hourly wage that a primary income earner must make to provide for themselves and their family. This wage allows a family to afford basic necessities, to avoid financial stress, to encourage healthy child development, and fully participate in their communities.
  • The methodology for calculating a living wage is based on the following scenario: a healthy family of four with two children; one child in full-time daycare and one in before-and-afterschool care; full-time hours of work for both parents; one parent taking two courses per semester at a local college; inclusion of the costs of living such as transportation, rental housing, clothing, and food; and deduction of federal and provincial taxes but with the inclusion of tax credits and government benefits.
  • In the past, this number has been calculated for a variety of family types. In the past two years, the living wage has only been calculated for a family of four.
  • Edmonton’s living wage for a dual-income family of four in 2021 is $18.10, $3.10 higher than the minimum wage.

Cost of Living - The cost of goods and services needed to maintain a household plays a significant role in determining a family’s quality of life. These costs include food, housing, clothing, education, health care, and child care. If a family cannot afford these items, the physical and mental health, social well-being, and financial security of the family may deteriorate.

Increases in these costs can impact a family’s ability to support a modest standard of living. If costs rise faster than household income, low- and modest-income families are at greater risk of poverty. Those already living in poverty fall even further behind.

This data has been collected from external sources and should not always be attributed to ESPC. We would be happy to provide you with a specific reference for the data that you have used. Please click on the text to the right to request sourcing information, report an error or omission, or provide your comments

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