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Oregon's Low Wage Workers Deserve A Raise
- Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996, employment in Oregon is up and unemployment is down.
- In fact, Oregon has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 103,800 new jobs have been added -- an increase of 7.0%.
- And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 17,300 new retail jobs have been added in Oregon.
- Additionally, unemployment has dropped in Oregon by 18% since the federal minimum wage was increased in 1996. It is now 4.9%.
- The state minimum wage increased to $5.50 in January 1997, to $6.00 in January 1998, and $6.50 in January 1999.
- Oregon's success illustrates that raising the minimum wage does not hurt the economy or cost jobs.
- Our proposal is a modest one and does not go as far as Oregon. It would simply raise the minimum wage to $6.15 by the year 2001 -- making the value of the minimum wage just 7’ more than it was in 1982.
- With Oregon as a model, it's time to set aside outdated arguments against increasing the minimum wage. The time has come for Congress to act now and raise the federal minimum wage.
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