Three years after the most recent increase in the federal minimum wage, proposals have emerged in both the House and Senate to increase the federal minimum wage to $9.80 by July 1, 2014. Such an increase would significantly help lower-income workers at a time when their wages have stagnated due (in part) to the lingering effects of the recession and a very tentative economic recovery. Forthcoming EPI research shows that those benefiting from a minimum wage increase are older than generally believed.
As seen in the figure below, 87.9 percent of those affected nationally by increasing the federal minimum wage to $9.80 are 20 years of age and older. The share of those affected who are 20 or older varies by state, from a low of 77.1 percent in Massachusetts to a high of 92.4 percent in Florida (and 93.9 percent in the District of Columbia).
Some minimum-wage workers are younger workers, perhaps saving for college or even contributing to their family expenses, but most minimum wage workers are 20 or older. Additionally, more than a third (35.8 percent) are married, and over a quarter (28.0 percent) are parents. For American families struggling to make ends meet, raising the minimum wage will make a significant difference. Moreover, 21 million children have a parent who will see an increase in their pay as a result of increasing the minimum wage.
Share of workers affected by increasing the federal minimum wage to $9.80 over the age of 20, by state
| District of Columbia | 93.9% |
|---|---|
| Florida | 92.4% |
| North Carolina | 92.0% |
| California | 91.9% |
| Hawaii | 91.7% |
| Tennessee | 91.6% |
| Georgia | 90.9% |
| Texas | 90.7% |
| South Carolina | 90.3% |
| West Virginia | 89.9% |
| New York | 89.7% |
| Louisiana | 89.7% |
| Kentucky | 89.7% |
| Arkansas | 89.6% |
| Oklahoma | 89.5% |
| Alabama | 89.0% |
| Mississippi | 88.8% |
| Idaho | 88.6% |
| Arizona | 88.5% |
| New Mexico | 88.4% |
| Nevada | 88.3% |
| Illinois | 88.0% |
| United States | 87.9% |
| New Jersey | 87.4% |
| Missouri | 86.9% |
| Montana | 86.6% |
| Utah | 86.5% |
| Indiana | 86.5% |
| Virginia | 86.3% |
| Washington | 85.8% |
| Maryland | 85.8% |
| Michigan | 85.5% |
| Oregon | 85.4% |
| South Dakota | 85.3% |
| Ohio | 84.8% |
| Kansas | 84.5% |
| Delaware | 84.4% |
| Colorado | 84.2% |
| Rhode Island | 83.4% |
| Vermont | 82.7% |
| Wisconsin | 82.6% |
| Wyoming | 82.5% |
| Connecticut | 81.9% |
| Iowa | 81.3% |
| Maine | 81.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 81.0% |
| Nebraska | 80.0% |
| New Hampshire | 78.7% |
| Alaska | 78.7% |
| North Dakota | 78.2% |
| Minnesota | 78.0% |
| Massachusetts | 77.1% |
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey – outgoing rotation group data
