International Equal Pay Day 2026: Pay Transparency in British Columbia
September 18th marked the UN’s International Equal Pay Day, an opportunity to recognize progress toward equal pay while acknowledging that a gender pay gap continues to exist in British Columbia and across Canada.
The latest data show that there has been progress, but there is still work to do:
In 2025, women in BC earned an average of 85 cents for every dollar earned by men, representing a gender pay gap of 14.5%. That gap has narrowed from 18.4% in 2022. (a)
Across Canada, women aged 15 and older earned an average of 88 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2025. (b)
The national figures also show that the gap is not experienced equally. In 2025, racialized women earned 78 cents, and Indigenous women earned 79 cents for every dollar earned by non-Indigenous, non-racialized men. (b)
The UN’s International Equal Pay Day represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. It further builds on the United Nations' commitment to human rights and against all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls.
In BC, the Pay Transparency Act became law on May 11, 2023, setting several mechanisms into motion to help address the provincial gender pay gap. As part of this, certain employers must prepare and post pay transparency reports. A reminder that most employers in BC with 50+ employees must prepare and post pay transparency reports by November 2026.
Pay transparency is becoming more common in BC
There are some signs that the legislation is changing how employers communicate about pay. As of March 2026, 81% of job postings on Indeed in BC included salary information, compared with 56% across Canada. (a)
The next phase of BC's reporting requirements will also significantly expand the number of organizations preparing Pay Transparency Reports. The province estimates that approximately 8,500 employers will be subject to the requirement when it expands to employers with 50 or more employees in fall 2026. (a)
If your organization has 50 or more employees in BC, now is a good time to make sure you understand the upcoming reporting requirements.
Our Pay Transparency Report resource explains who needs to report, what information is required, where your report must be posted, and the tools available to help you prepare.
Review our full Pay Transparency Reporting resource here:
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions about preparing your Pay Transparency Report or complying with the PTA, please contact James Hsu (he/him), lawyer and Head of Employer Services at PortaLaw.
References
(a) Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Finance – Gender Equity Office, B.C. releases third-annual Pay Transparency Report, June 1, 2026.
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026FIN0022-000633
(b) Statistics Canada, The gender wage gap persists, March 5, 2026. Statistics are based on 2025 Labour Force Survey data and average hourly wages.
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/9084-gender-wage-gap-persists
