The arguments against a gradual minimum wage increase are outdated and in need of reconsideration. The continued focus on potential job losses ignores the latest research and much of the evidence from states that have recently increased their minimum wage. Instead of focusing on the employment effect on teens and workers at or below the minimum wage, the recent research looks at the impact of changes on a large share of affected low-wage workers. The emerging consensus is that the low-wage workforce, as a whole, is better off after an increase in the minimum wage.
The latest domestic and international evidence shows that higher wage floors discourage low-pay employment and encourage the creation of good jobs with higher wages, more security, and higher productivity. This delivers benefits to workers, businesses, and the broader economy.
