Minimum wage to rise to $19.75, formula introduced to adjust minimum wage annually
Press Release
July 8, 2025
Iqaluit, Nunavut (July 8, 2025) – The Government of Nunavut is introducing a new approach to calculating the territory’s minimum wage and will be increasing the minimum wage to $19.75 per hour effective September 1, 2025.
Beginning this year, Nunavut’s minimum wage rate will be adjusted annually on September 1 using a formula. This formula is based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Iqaluit and the percentage change in the average hourly wage in Nunavut for the previous year.
“Nunavut will have a system in place to ensure our minimum wage is more responsive to the rising cost of living and economic realities of the territory,” said Minister of Justice Pamela Hakongak Gross. “This new approach is a positive development for employers and employees in Nunavut, helping to ensure fairness, transparency, and predictability around our minimum wage rate increases.”
Going forward, the adjusted minimum wage rate will be announced publicly by July 31 each year and published in the Nunavut Gazette.
Quick Facts
- The September 1, 2025, adjustment represents a 4% increase to the current minimum wage rate.
- At $19.75 per hour, Nunavut will continue to have the highest minimum wage rate in Canada.
- Most Canadian jurisdictions use an annual adjustment formula for their minimum wage rates. Like the Northwest Territories, Nunavut will base its formulas on local CPI and average hourly wage. There is no CPI rate calculated for all of Nunavut, only Iqaluit.
- The annual adjustment formula will not be used to decrease the minimum wage rate. If the formula adjustment would lower the minimum wage rate in a particular year, the adjusted rate will not take effect and the existing minimum wage rate will remain until the next increase.
- The last increase to Nunavut’s minimum wage was on January 1, 2024, when it was increased from $16.00 to $19.00 per hour.
Contact
Christina Emberley
A/Director, Policy and Planning
Department of Justice
867-975-6324
Justice.info@gov.nu.ca
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