On April Fools Day, Nova Scotia will officially raise minimum wage by 15 cents to $10.15 per hour to keep up with the costs of living. On Oct. 1 last year minimum wage in NS went up from $9.65 to $10.
However, a research intern with the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies says minimum wage increases can hurt rather than help small businesses, young people, unskilled workers and low-income families. Andreas Korfmann also says there’s a correlation between minimum wage increases and higher levels of unemployment.
The NS government has said workers can expect more increases in the future, but hasn’t said when.