Minimum wage to increase to $15.90 per hour

Release

Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

February 11, 2026

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The province’s minimum wage will increase to $15.90 per hour on April 1.

This is an increase of 25 cents from the current rate of $15.65 per hour.

“A competitive minimum wage is essential to a productive province,” said Alyson Townsend, the minister responsible for labour. “Workers in every wage bracket are important to a thriving economy.”

Five per cent of all employees in the province were earning the minimum wage last year, down from six per cent in 2024.

Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of those earning minimum wage were working part time. Just over one-third (35 per cent) of all minimum wage earners were 15 to 19 years of age.

“Many of the people earning minimum wage are students, either saving to continue their studies after high school or already pursuing a post-secondary education,” said Townsend. “We’re investing today in the workforce of tomorrow.”

The minimum wage rate is indexed to New Brunswick’s consumer price index, rounded to the nearest five cents. The consumer price index grew by 1.7 per cent in 2025.

Related topics

Business and economy