Aimee Picchi
CBS News (Money Watch), Dec 26, 2023
Higher minimum wages will go into effect on January 1 across 22 states ...
The higher baseline wages will deliver almost $7 billion in additional annual wages to about 9.9 million workers, [according to the] Economic Policy Institute ... On top of the state pay hikes, an additional 38 cities and counties will also increase their minimum wages, the group said. ...
"Despite continued progress by many states across the country to increase their wage floors, there are still 17.6 million workers earning less than $15 an hour," wrote EPI research assistant Sebastian Martinez Hickey in a blog post. "Almost half of workers (47.8%) earning less than $15 an hour are in one of the 20 states that still uses the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour." ...
"While the federal minimum wage falls further and further behind the cost of living at just $7.25 an hour, state increases are vital for workers, businesses and communities," said Holly Sklar, CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, in a statement. ...
The 20 states where the baseline wage will remain at $7.25 an hour are primarily located in the South and Midwest, from Alabama to Wisconsin. ...
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