ALBERTA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
~ The Advocate for Alberta Business Since 1937
MINIMUM WAGE SURVEY RESULTS
The survey was conducted from Wednesday, March 2, 2005 to Friday, March 18, 2005 via fax and e-mail through community Chambers of Commerce membership lists.
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce represents 127 community Chambers of Commerce in Alberta’s 83 electoral districts.
| Employer | % | Employee | % | Total | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 363 | 83.4 | 55 | 94.8 | 418 | 84.8 |
| No | 53 | 12.2 | 3 | 5.2 | 56 | 11.4 |
| Indiff | 19 | 4.4 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3.8 |
| Total | 435 | 100 | 58 | 100 | 493 | 100 |
| Employer | % | |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly Agree | 92 | 24.9 |
| Somewhat Agree | 130 | 35.1 |
| Somewhat Disagree | 49 | 13.2 |
| Strongly Disagree | 85 | 23.0 |
| Don’t know | 14 | 3.8 |
| Total | 370 | 100 |
While not scientific in method, a lower than expected rate of response to the survey may be attributed to the fact that many employers may be indifferent to a minimum wage increase.
As you know, many employers must already pay upwards of $7 per hour, simply to remain competitive. Regardless of the level of response, over 83% of those employers surveyed supported increasing the minimum wage to $7 per hour. Still, many others recognized that by increasing the minimum wage, it would have a “ratcheting up” effect particularly for those employees who would now be earning slightly above the minimum wage.
While increasing the minimum wage in Alberta was somewhat inevitable, given the thriving economy, the ACC recommends that the Government of Alberta implement further corporate income tax cuts, to further stimulate economic growth and to help mitigate the pressure on many employers who will now be expected to raise wages. The ACC urges the Government of Alberta to consider this recommendation in its upcoming provincial budget.
Your Chamber and You… Become Involved. …IT WORKS!
