With artwork by Unaddressed.
March 8 marked International Women’s Day (IWD)—a day to celebrate women’s achievements while drawing attention to ongoing gender injustices.
In Calgary, and across Alberta, women are still disproportionately impacted by poverty. Persistent structural and systemic factors, like sexism and gender-based discrimination, also serve to continue to place women at higher risks of falling into poverty [1]. The gendered disparities related to poverty can be seen across Enough for All’s levers of change, including income, mental health, housing, food insecurity, justice and transportation.
In Calgary, and across Alberta, women are still disproportionately impacted by poverty. Persistent structural and systemic factors, like sexism and gender-based discrimination, also serve to continue to place women at higher risks of falling into poverty [1]. The gendered disparities related to poverty can be seen across Enough for All’s levers of change, including income, mental health, housing, food insecurity, justice and transportation.
In the spirit of this year’s IWD theme, “Give to Gain,” we are reflecting on the state of poverty for women in Calgary and the necessary solutions towards improved well-being for all women and girls.
The Reality of Poverty for Women in Alberta
Calgary's most recent overall poverty rate is 9.6% which means about one out of every ten Calgarians live at or below Canada’s official poverty line. The poverty rate among women in Calgary is slightly higher at 10.1%, compared to 9.1% for men. [2]
If we drill down further into that poverty rate, we know that there are certain groups of women who are likely over-represented including single mothers, senior women, Indigenous women, racialized women, newcomer women, women with disabilities, and intersections amongst these populations. Trans women and gender-diverse individuals also face unique barriers which likely shape experiences of poverty that may not be represented in our current data.
Key factors that contribute to gendered income poverty include gender-based discrimination in the workplace, a higher likelihood for women to work part-time and precarious work, a higher burden of caregiving and domestic responsibilities, and a persistent gender pay gap which still sees women paid less than their male counterparts. High costs in housing, childcare and food further exacerbate financial instability for women.
Quick Facts
- A new Statistics Canada study shows that women and those living in women-led, lone-parent households were more likely to experience persistent low-incomes. [3]
- In 2021, there were 40,670 women-led, lone-parent households in Calgary. [4] Single-parent households were the largest proportion of Income Support beneficiaries in Alberta in 2024. [5]
- In 2023, 40.7% of persons in lone-parent families were moderately or severely food insecure in Alberta, compared to 39.5% in Canada, and 22.4% for all persons in Alberta. [6]
- The living wage for a lone-parent with one child was $36.52 in 2025. [7]
The Gender Wage Gap in Alberta
In 2025, the average weekly female wage ratio was 71% of the average weekly male wage rate. [8] The national wage ratio is 80%, and Alberta has the lowest wage ratio amongst all provinces. This means that Alberta has the largest gender pay gap in the country, at almost 40% higher than the national average. [9] Indigenous, racialized and newcomer women, and women with disabilities, have an even higher wage gap.
Alberta remains the only province to not have pay equity legislation nor a policy framework for pay equity. [10] Pay equity legislation requires equal pay for work of equal value and is important in the Alberta context where there are prominent divides between male and female-dominated sectors (like the energy and care sectors). While Alberta’s Human Rights Act prevents pay discrimination between similar positions, it does not require equal pay for work of equal value.
Quick facts
- Women represented 29% of Calgarians experiencing homelessness in the 2024 Point in Time Count, and this number is likely higher if accounting for hidden forms of homelessness. [11]
- More women work gig-work in Alberta than men. [12]
- Soon to be published research from the Women’s Centre of Calgary shows that 35% of women experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity in Calgary relied on provincial income assistance.
- 64% of women experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity in Calgary reported living with one or more disabilities.
What Needs to Change?
Government decisions can have huge impacts on gendered poverty in Alberta. Key policy changes can protect women against unequal pay and very low earnings, and improve social programs that support women and families in meeting their basic needs.
Adopt pay equity legislation: According to the Alberta Federation of Labour, if the gender wage gap was eliminated, women would earn $7/hour more on average. [9] This increase in earnings could be the difference between crisis and stability.
Ensure access to high-quality, affordable child care: Access to affordable child care is a key driver of women’s economic participation and has been proven to improve women's ability to enter or re-enter the workforce. As Alberta moves forward with federal negotiations on child care, it is essential to maintain access, affordability and quality, especially for low-income families.
Improve adequacy of income assistance: Income Support core benefit rates for both Expected to Work and Barriers to Full Employment are well below Market Basket Measure poverty thresholds. Increasing core benefit rates would better allow women in poverty to meet their basic needs.
Enhance wage protections for gig workers: as women comprise the majority of gig workers in Alberta, enhancing wage protections for all gig workers would better protect women against sub-minimum wage earnings.
On International Women’s Day, we reflect in gratitude for the strides women have made to gain rights and advance equality. At the same time, we recognize there is still much more to do. This month, we invite you to reflect on both the progress made and the work that remains.
