A household is all the people who live in the same home, such as a house or rental unit. Annual household income is the amount of money a household receives over the course of one calendar year. It includes income from all sources such as employment, pensions, investments, and government financial assistance. [1]
After-tax household income is the total income of a household minus income taxes.
In 2020, the median after-tax income of households in Guelph and Wellington County was $85,000—an increase of 11.1% from $76,500 in 2015.
Higher incomes enable households to afford basic needs—like nutritious food and decent homes. While income is increasing, it needs to match increases in cost of living otherwise basic needs will become unaffordable for more and more households.
Low income is defined using the low-income measure, after tax (LIM-AT). The LIM-AT is equal to 50% of the median adjusted after-tax income of households. The measure is “adjusted” for different household sizes to consider economies of scale. It reflects the fact that the needs of a household increase—but at a decreasing rate—as the number of household members increases. [1]
This decline was largely driven by higher government financial support (particularly pandemic-related benefits, which benefitted the working-age population) and the Canada Child Benefit (which benefitted parents and children). [2]
Income support programs provide financial assistance to help individuals and families pay for basic needs, such as food, housing, and healthcare. People need income support when they are not employed and either looking for work or cannot work due to a disability or illness. [1][2]
The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) provides financial assistance for people with an ongoing physical or mental disability that makes it difficult for them to work, care for themselves, or participate in their community. [1] One ODSP case is an open or active file for one ODSP recipient.
Since 2012, the average number of ODSP cases has been increasing at a faster rate than the overall population has grown.
Ontario Works provides financial assistance to people who are unemployed—as well as employment support to help them find and keep a job. [2] One Ontario Works case is an open or active file for one Ontario Works recipient.
Until 2020, the average number of Ontario Works cases had been increasing—and at a faster rate than the overall population has grown.
In 2020 and 2021, the number of cases dropped, due in part to the availability of pandemic-related benefits. Many Ontario Works clients with recent employment history were able to exit Ontario Works assistance and instead receive federal pandemic-related benefits. Ontario Works cases began to increase again in November of 2021. [3]
The Gini index indicates who equally income is distributed among the population. Values range from 0 (equal) to 1 (unequal). A value of 0 means that all households receive the same amount of income. A value of 1 means that one household has all the income. [1]
The measure is “adjusted” for different household sizes to consider economies of scale. It reflects the fact that the needs of a household increase—but at a decreasing rate—as the number of household members increases.
In 2020, the Gini index in Guelph and Wellington County was 0.283.
Between 2015 and 2020, the Gini index decreased across Canada (local data is not available). This reduction in income inequality was largely driven by increases in government financial assistance (particularly pandemic-related benefits) and the Canada Child Benefit. [2]
Statistics Canada. (2017). Census profile, 2016 census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
Statistics Canada. (2023). Census profile, 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
Statistics Canada. (2017). Census profile, 2016 census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
Statistics Canada. (2023). Census profile, 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
County of Wellington Social Services. (n.d.). Personal communication.
Statistics Canada. (2023). Census profile, 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001. Retrieved February 26, 2024.