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22 US states hike minimum wages from January 1
The upcoming minimum wage increases will impact women, constituting more than half of the workers expected to receive a raise.
Representative image / Image - Unsplash
Minimum wages increased in 22 states on January 1, benefiting approximately 9.9 million workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). The total additional wages from these state minimum wage hikes are estimated to be $6.95 billion.
According to the EPI analysis, the upcoming minimum wage increases set for January 1 will have a significant impact on women, who make up more than half (57.9 percent) of the workers expected to receive a raise. Furthermore, the wage hikes will disproportionately benefit Black and Hispanic workers.
Although Black workers make up 9 percent of the wage-earning workforce in the states implementing increases, they represent 11.1 percent of the workers affected by the raise. Similarly, Hispanic workers, accounting for 19.6 percent of the workforce in these states, will make up a significant 37.9 percent of the workers receiving wage increases.
The wage increases carry significant benefits for working families, with over a quarter (25.8 percent) of the affected workers being parents, totaling more than 2.5 million individuals. The impact extends to 5.6 million children residing in households where someone is slated to receive a minimum wage hike.
Additionally, the increases will play a crucial role in providing essential support to workers and families in need, as almost one in five (19.7 percent) of those receiving a raise currently have incomes below the poverty line. Notably, more than half (51 percent) of the workers benefiting from the minimum wage increases are located in California, Hawaii, and New York—states known for their high cost of living.
In January, Maryland, New Jersey, and upstate New York will see their minimum wages reach or exceed $15 an hour for the first time, joining California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, and the rest of New York as states with minimum wages at or above $15 an hour. Additionally, seven more states, namely Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Virginia, have either passed legislation or ballot measures to achieve or surpass $15 an hour in the coming years. Washington state will boast the highest state minimum wage at the beginning of the year, increasing from $15.74 to $16.28 due to an inflation adjustment.
While several states have made strides in elevating their minimum wages, a significant number of workers, totaling 17.6 million, continue to earn less than $15 an hour. Nearly half of these workers (47.8 percent) earning less than $15 an hour are located in one of the 20 states that still adhere to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Despite progress, a considerable portion of the workforce remains in states where the minimum wage has not been increased beyond the federal level.
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