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Idaho's Low Wage Workers Deserve A Raise
- Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996-97, employment in Idaho is up and unemployment is down.
- In fact, Idaho has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 54,700 new jobs have been added -- an increase of 11.0%.
- And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 8,700 new retail jobs have been added in Idaho.
- Additionally, unemployment has dropped in Idaho to 15% since the federal minimum wage was increased. Unemployment is now 4.4%.
- With economic strengths of this proportion, surely Idaho's lowest paid workers deserve a raise.
- Under our proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $6.15 by the year 2001, over 58,000 Idahoans would get a raise.
- Our proposal is a modest one and would make the value of the minimum wage just 7’ more than what it was in 1982.
- Idaho's economy is strong and its low wage workers should share in this success. The time has come for Congress to act now and give thousands of Idahoans the raise they deserve.
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