Squamish has a shortage of workers to fill entry-level jobs. This is clear by looking at local employment boards. Many local cafés, grocery stores and fast food restaurants are hiring and pay about $11 per hour, or $1,657 a month after deductions, assuming the employee gets full-time hours. The unemployment rate in B.C. is currently about 5.7 per cent, government stats tell us.
So why aren’t the single and unemployed flocking to beautiful Squamish to fill these jobs?
A one-bedroom apartment in Squamish is out of the question on such a wage as they currently run about $1,300 a month. Renting a room in the district is currently about $750 a month. Meaning no kitchen or bathroom to yourself, of course.
To own a vehicle costs an average of $447 a month all told, by CAA calculations, so a car is out. Thus, its walking, biking and Squamish’s not-so-efficient bus service for our low wage worker. Transit, a cellphone, Internet, hydro, banking fees and necessities (think tampons, cold medicine, occasional haircuts, dental fees, thrift store clothing) adds up to an average of about $450 a month.
Most local entry-level jobs don’t come with health benefits, even at full-time hours, I discovered scrolling the job boards. That leaves $114 per week (in a four-week month) for food. Note costs for a pet, savings, gifts, or a dime for entertainment are not included, but the young can forgo those things, for a time. Thus, $16 a day is left for food, maximum. Truth be told, sometimes I spend that in a workday on coffee and a sushi lunch.
Surviving on $114 a week for food is doable, but tough. Slip and buy a friend a birthday present, or treat yourself to dinner out and the budget is blown. Goodness help you if you develop dietary restrictions or need extensive dental work. No vacations or gym memberships, camping trips or glass of wine with dinner.
Food in Squamish is expensive. (On a recent grocery shop I noted butter topped $7!). Thus it is white bread and margarine to save some cash.
Low-income people are notoriously good at budgeting, I know from experience. Hamburger meat can be stretched into several meals, leftover chicken bones can be used to make soup, so this is all doable, but would you choose to do it? Me neither.
And that is why the lowest wage jobs go unfilled in Squamish.
