Minimum Wage Rises to $16.75
Press Release
April 1, 2026
Nova Scotia’s minimum wage increased to $16.75 per hour today, April 1.
A second increase will bring the minimum wage to $17 per hour on October 1, 2026. The adjustments reflect the consumer price index plus one per cent, as outlined in the minimum wage regulations.
The previous rate was $16.50 per hour. This is the eighth increase to Nova Scotia’s minimum wage since April 2021, when it went up to $12.95 per hour.
“Minimum wage workers show up every day in workplaces across Nova Scotia,” said Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “This increase means more money in the pockets of hard-working Nova Scotians to help pay for groceries, rent and everyday expenses. We will continue to raise the minimum wage in a fair and predictable way.”
The increases follow the unanimous recommendation of the Minimum Wage Review Committee, which includes representatives of employees and employers.
The Province continues to invest in programs and services that support people who need it most and help people participate in the workforce, including:
- delivering more than $680 million in tax-saving measures that will save the average Nova Scotian family more than $1,400 this year
- making the Heating Assistance Rebate Program permanent at $400 per year
- investing $1.7 billion through Our Homes, Action for Housing, the government’s five-year housing plan
- increasing support for people on income assistance and indexing it to inflation
- providing skills development and training programs to connect more people to jobs.
Additional Resources:
More information on Nova Scotia’s minimum wage: https://novascotia.ca/lae/employmentrights/minimumwage.asp
The Minimum Wage Review Committee’s report is at: https://news.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/25-55705%20-%20%20Minimum%20Wage%20Review%20Committee%20Report%20-%20ENG.pdf
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