Support among Business in Vancouver readers for raising B.C.’s hourly minimum wage to $11 from the current $8 is growing, according to the most recent BIV-Ipsos Reid poll.
In 2007, when the polling firm first surveyed business leaders on the issue for BIV, 52% either strongly or somewhat supported raising the minimum wage. A similar survey, conducted in December, showed that number had increased to 69%.
The percentage of executives surveyed who strongly support the move has increased to 39% today from 30% in 2007.
“It’s an overwhelming amount of support given that traditionally this group has not been supportive of increases to the minimum wage,” said Steve Mossop, Ipsos’ western region president.
“They’re seen as being opposed to minimum wage increases because of the impact on labour costs. But the latest survey shows that it’s really 69% of business leaders saying that it’s about time to raise the minimum wage.”
More than three-quarters of executives surveyed in December (77%) supported raising the minimum wage because B.C.’s cost of living is rising.
Other popular reasons to raise the minimum wage were that:
- the minimum wage has not increased in the past nine years (67%);
- B.C.’s minimum wage is the lowest in Canada (63%);
- B.C.’s minimum wage workers earn less than Canada’s low-income cut-off (52%); and
- all other Canadian provinces have increased their minimum wage within the past five years (48%).
The top reason business leaders cited for opposing a minimum wage raise: it could reduce the ability of small businesses to survive or compete in the marketplace (71%).
As for the ideal minimum wage rate, only 16% of those surveyed believe that a minimum wage under $9 is reasonable. Three years ago, more than double that number (33%) thought that a minimum wage under $9 was reasonable.
“The magic number is between $9 per hour and $11 per hour,” Mossop said. “After that support drops off dramatically. It’s not even really a debate about what the number should be. I think the media has fixated on $10 per hour, and that number seems to resonate with this group as well.”
A majority of the executives surveyed, both three years ago and today, believe the minimum wage should rise regularly to reflect cost-of-living increases.Three years ago, 57% supported the idea of indexing the minimum wage to the cost of living. That has since risen to 60%, according to the December BIV-Ipsos survey.
In 2007, Ipsos Reid invited 406 business leaders to take part in the survey. Of those, 132 started the survey and 122 completed the survey.
In December, Ipsos Reid invited 327 business leaders to take part in the survey. Of those, 194 started the survey and 183 completed it. •