With the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hourþunchanged since 2009, many states have taken matters intoþtheir own hands and raised the statewide minimum wage.þþWhile a higher floor for pay is a powerful tool for improving the lot of the least-skilled workers, some economists worry it could result in slower job creation or cuts as employers confront higher labor costs.þþStates With the BiggestþRaises for Low-Wage WorkersþþNineteen states raised their minimum wage in 2017, with increases as substantial as $1.95 more an hour in Arizona. However, the raises in most states amounted to less than a dollar an hour — 10 cents an hour or less in seven states.þþThese small raises are linked to the inflation rate, which has been subdued. All the increases occurred in states that already had a minimum wage higher than the federal level.þþ
Source: NY Times
