Pro & Con Quotes: Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?

“Women are the majority of federal minimum wage earners, with Black and Latina women also overrepresented. Tipped and disabled workers also earn subminimum wages, which remains federally legal. Failure to increase the federally mandated minimum wage consistent with productivity or cost of living has caused these workers to earn poverty-level wages and struggle to meet their basic needs, particularly at a time with high cost of living pressures and food insecurity. Women and workers of color often also have limited access to worker protections and basic benefits—such as paid sick days or healthcare—and disproportionately experience poverty through higher rates of food and housing insecurity; lack of access to quality healthcare; and lower economic opportunities.

Raising the federal minimum wage benefits not just those that earn the minimum wage directly and their families but also employers and the overall economy. Furthermore, by eliminating the subminimum wage for tipped and disabled workers, the federal government could uplift paychecks of millions of workers who are often trapped in poverty. Higher wages are linked to less worker turnover and higher productivity, thus benefiting employers. When low-wage workers and households have higher pay, they tend to spend more, which helps stimulate the economy. It’s imperative that Congress and state legislatures, particularly those in the South, raise the minimum wage to foster an economy that works for all.”

“[W]hen looking at the bigger picture—who the minimum wage impacts, who would benefit from raising it, how it currently compares with inflation and its long-term effects for the economy—one thing is clear: An increase at the national level is overdue….

It’s clear that the federal minimum wage’s purchasing power—the amount of goods or services that your money can buy—has severely eroded over time. The current federal minimum wage, adjusted in 2020 dollars, has less purchasing power than it did from the mid-1950’s to around 1980.

It’s important to differentiate here between minimum wage keeping pace with productivity and growing with inflation; if it simply grew with inflation (referred to as indexing), the money would have the same purchasing power over time. If it rose with productivity, minimum wage earners will continue to be able to buy more over time. That’s why some economists and politicians argue that only raising the wage to account for inflation isn’t necessarily the best option to help minimum wage earners.”

“Passing this legislation [Raise the Wage Act] would mean that millions of women will get a necessary raise. Many work hard every day performing services that are essential to our communities and our society, and yet they earn so little that they still worry about paying their bills. We’re talking, for example, about the more than half a million childcare workers whose typical pay is just $11.17 per hour. And we’re talking about the nearly 800,000 home health aides whose median pay is $11.63.

The overwhelming share of individuals doing the life-supporting, honorable, and extremely challenging work of caring for our children, people with disabilities, and seniors are women. These types of female-dominated, low-paid jobs are in the fields with the largest projected growth over the next decade. Meanwhile, Wall Street employees, who are predominantly male, made an average of $422,500 (over $200 per hour) in 2017.”

“Raising the minimum wage to $15 would help ensure that more low-wage workers are paid enough to cover basic living expenses, i.e., a wage providing a modest yet adequate standard of living. As of 2021, in virtually all urban and rural areas of the country, a single adult without children working full time must earn more than $15 per hour to have enough to pay for housing and other basic living expenses. For individuals with children, year-round work at a $15 wage in 2025 will still be inadequate to achieve basic economic security.

Minimum wage increases have not led to significant job losses. Despite claims that raising the minimum wage would reduce job opportunities for vulnerable groups of workers, the best evidence shows little to no job losses in the wake of minimum wage increases and a net wage gain even if job losses have occurred. These benefits explain why surveys show that the people most likely to support a minimum wage increase are unemployed people, people of color, and women.”

“[H]igher minimum wages do not have adverse effects on employment, or the weeks or hours worked among minimum wage workers — even four years after minimum wages are increased. We didn’t find adverse employment effects among women and minority groups, either. As a result, we determined that the United States can raise pay to $15 an hour by 2024 without hurting jobs, even in low-wage states…

Higher minimum wages reduce employee turnover costs and increase worker productivity. They raise consumer demand by increasing the purchasing power of workers. Low-wage employers, particularly in the restaurant industry, also absorb minimum wage costs through small price increases in restaurants. Those of us who eat in restaurants are able and willing to pay a few cents more for a typical meal, so restaurant sales go up even with the small price increases.”

“The best social program in the world is a good job with fair wages and the dignity that comes with it. Now serving in Congress, I can say with certainty that raising wages is the moral issue of our time…

[The minimum wage is] stuck at $7.25 an hour. That leaves Americans who work full-time living in poverty. These families come up thousands of dollars short each month just trying to meet basic living standards…

It’s illogical that our nation’s workers are more productive than ever, but aren’t being rewarded for it. Workers are struggling with high health care costs, expensive prescription drugs and worries about whether or not they’ll be able to retire with dignity. The sad truth is, business profits are all going to CEO bonuses and offshore accounts instead of actual paychecks.”

“Raising the minimum wage right now is more important than ever. Minimum wage increases stimulate the economy by increasing consumer spending, without adding to state and federal budget deficits. Consumer spending drives 70 percent of the economy, and increasing demand is key for jumpstarting production and re-hiring. A raise in the minimum wage puts money into the pockets of low-income consumers, who immediately spend it at local businesses… Strengthening the minimum wage can help build a sustainable economic recovery – without increasing costs for taxpayers.”

“Economic inequality continues to increase in the United States. The richest 1 percent control almost 40 percent of our country’s wealth, while people earning the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour are living near or below the poverty line in almost every state. Women, who make up two-thirds of the minimum wage workforce, are most severely impacted.

Increasing wages seems like a no-brainer. Minimum wage raises across the board would put women and men on equal economic footing, as well as spur economic growth. Higher wages put more money in the pockets of more people and boost consumer spending, increasing overall economic activity. Boosting the minimum wage also would help shrink the gender pay gap and the imbalances of power in the workplace that come with it. On average, women earn only about 80 cents per every dollar that a man earns. And the gap is even wider for Black and Latina women.”