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New Jersey's Low Wage Workers Deserve A Raise
- Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996-97, employment in New Jersey is up and unemployment is down.
- In fact, New Jersey has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 247,600 new jobs have been created an increase of 6.8%.
- And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 39,100 retail jobs have been added in New Jersey.
- Additionally, unemployment has dropped in New Jersey by 33% since the federal minimum wage was increased. It is now 4.1%.
- With economic strengths of this proportion, surely New Jersey's low wage workers deserve a raise.
- Under our proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $6.15 by the year 2001, over 205,000 New Jersey workers 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.
- New Jersey'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 New Jersey workers the raise they deserve.
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