Highest min. wage state beats U.S. in job creation

[Zaro]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-05/washington-shows-highest-minimum-wage-state-beats-u-s-with-jobs.html

When Washington residents voted in 1998 to raise the state’s minimum wage and link it to the cost of living, opponents warned the measure would be a job-killer. The prediction hasn’t been borne out.

In the 15 years that followed, the state’s minimum wage climbed to $9.32 -- the highest in the country. Meanwhile job growth continued at an average 0.8 percent annual pace, 0.3 percentage point above the national rate. Payrolls at Washington’s restaurants and bars, portrayed as particularly vulnerable to higher wage costs, expanded by 21 percent. Poverty has trailed the U.S. level for at least seven years.

The debate is replaying on a national scale as Democrats led by President Barack Obama push for an increase in the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum, while opponents argue a raise would hurt those it’s intended to help by axing jobs for the lowest-skilled. Even if that proves true, Washington’s example shows that any such effects aren’t big enough to throw its economy and labor market off the tracks.


“It’s hard to see that the state of Washington has paid a heavy penalty for having a higher minimum wage than the rest of the country,” said Gary Burtless, an economist at Brookings Institution who formerly was at the U.S. Labor Department.

[johndnorth]

Not as many were hired as could have been. Prices went up. Benefits were cut. Some lost hours. Were these effects brought into the calculations? If Washington has prospered under the raising of minimum wage law good for them. At some point tying the raise to inflation will begin to hurt employers. When that day comes employers will use the methods all employers do to control costs. Some may even leave the state.

[PKT1106]

Population of Washington and Industry in Washington compared to other states?

[Gallows 420]

San Francisco: $10.74 since January 1, 2014

[Fallopian]

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-05/washington-shows-highest-minimum-wage-state-beats-u-s-with-jobs.html

 

When Washington residents voted in 1998 to raise the state’s minimum wage and link it to the cost of living, opponents warned the measure would be a job-killer. The prediction hasn’t been borne out.

 

In the 15 years that followed, the state’s minimum wage climbed to $9.32 -- the highest in the country. Meanwhile job growth continued at an average 0.8 percent annual pace, 0.3 percentage point above the national rate. Payrolls at Washington’s restaurants and bars, portrayed as particularly vulnerable to higher wage costs, expanded by 21 percent. Poverty has trailed the U.S. level for at least seven years.

 

The debate is replaying on a national scale as Democrats led by President Barack Obama push for an increase in the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum, while opponents argue a raise would hurt those it’s intended to help by axing jobs for the lowest-skilled. Even if that proves true, Washington’s example shows that any such effects aren’t big enough to throw its economy and labor market off the tracks.

 

 

“It’s hard to see that the state of Washington has paid a heavy penalty for having a higher minimum wage than the rest of the country,” said Gary Burtless, an economist at Brookings Institution who formerly was at the U.S. Labor Department.

 

I live in Washington State. You are full of BS. Washington was not hit as hard by the recession as other states. The minimum wage hike has nothing to do with it. The fact that we didn't go so hard into the recession allowed us to get back out quicker and even grow a bit. As someone else said, we could have had more jobs and more growth if we didn't have such a high minimum wage.

 

I noticed you didn't talk about the companies that have left Washington state because of B&O taxes, sales taxes, special taxes King Country has put on people and the lack of infrastruction. Did you know that I-5 is the main interstate that runs from Mexico up to Canada and it runs right through Seattle. That interstate goes down to 4 lanes right in the heart of Seattle because of the way the county built over it and by it. You add to it the problems with the DOT and you have companies like Boeing leave. You have smaller companies leaving. Oh and Intel wanted to build a plant down in Dupont. They were in state ready to build but the state would not work with them. Intel left and took all their jobs with them.

 

Washington has a lot going for it. The natural resources are plenty. We have cheap hydroelectic power we sell to other states. Still we have a very unfriendly business environment.

[roadkill]

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-05/washington-shows-highest-minimum-wage-state-beats-u-s-with-jobs.html

 

When Washington residents voted in 1998 to raise the state’s minimum wage and link it to the cost of living, opponents warned the measure would be a job-killer. The prediction hasn’t been borne out.

 

In the 15 years that followed, the state’s minimum wage climbed to $9.32 -- the highest in the country. Meanwhile job growth continued at an average 0.8 percent annual pace, 0.3 percentage point above the national rate. Payrolls at Washington’s restaurants and bars, portrayed as particularly vulnerable to higher wage costs, expanded by 21 percent. Poverty has trailed the U.S. level for at least seven years.

 

The debate is replaying on a national scale as Democrats led by President Barack Obama push for an increase in the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum, while opponents argue a raise would hurt those it’s intended to help by axing jobs for the lowest-skilled. Even if that proves true, Washington’s example shows that any such effects aren’t big enough to throw its economy and labor market off the tracks.

 

 

“It’s hard to see that the state of Washington has paid a heavy penalty for having a higher minimum wage than the rest of the country,” said Gary Burtless, an economist at Brookings Institution who formerly was at the U.S. Labor Department.

 

Wait a while! California’s dreamin’ if they think a $10 minimum wage is a good idea

The state of California has increased their minimum wage to $10 per hour, raising it from $8. Washington state had previously been the highest with $9.19 an hour. The bill was passed on a straight party-line vote. Governor Jerry Brown has stated that he will sign the bill. The state’s employers will now have even more incentive to leave for states like Texas, that offer friendlier business environments.

[Rebelitarian]

When minimum wage is increased the economy always recovers. These CEOs making 500x their average employee can afford it.

 

If they go under then it is due to bad business practices not minimum wage hikes.

[Zaro]

San Francisco: $10.74 since January 1, 2014

gotta give it a minute

[Fallopian]

LOL!

[ATX 420]

Not as many were hired as could have been. Prices went up. Benefits were cut. Some lost hours. Were these effects brought into the calculations? If Washington has prospered under the raising of minimum wage law good for them. At some point tying the raise to inflation will begin to hurt employers. When that day comes employers will use the methods all employers do to control costs. Some may even leave the state.

But there are other effects we can speculate on, like how much of that money was put back in the economy? Poor people don't hoard their money, they spend it, and the money goes right back to the top

[Fallopian]

And rich people don't hoard their money. It puts it right back out into circulation.

[ATX 420]

And rich people don't hoard their money. It puts it right back out into circulation.

 

 

Sure, it does.. but let's face it, poor people usually don't save any money, so that money gets spent immediately

[Dnarnya]

_{How do we know Washington benefited? Maybe they would have a much better employment rate with a lower minimum wage.}

[ATX 420]

_{How do we know Washington benefited? Maybe they would have a much better employment rate with a lower minimum wage.}

 

Sure, but it can't be ignored that the costs probably weren't so bad if the economy is still doing as well as it is… sure, maybe the GDP can be a little better, but I'd take a better quality of life for thousands over a couple extra GDP points any day. There is a lot of fear mongering over the minimum wage issue, Washington is an example that the negative impact is being exaggerated by the GOP. They worry more about a little bit of extra profit for business owners over giving a livable wage to millions of people across the country

[Fallopian]

 

 

Sure, it does.. but let's face it, poor people usually don't save any money, so that money gets spent immediately

That's my point. They both spend money.

[ATX 420]

That's my point. They both spend money.

 

Sure, and I believe if we can give people a livable wage for working 40 hours a week, that is reasonable.

Raising the minimum wage isn't going to come close to bridging the gap between the rich and poor, it'll just make a few people's lives easier.

[William1444]

rich, sociopath repukes hate American workers.

That is why corporate ass holes move corporations out of the country

to race to the bottom for the lowest wages, pollute and create unsafe

working conditions in other countries.

 

That is why ass hole large welfare subsidy landowners bring in illegals

instead of hiring American teenagers in the summer months which is

why schools are out during the summers.

 

The sick, ass hole republicans get elected in the red neck, right to slavery

states and scab off of union advances of pay, benefits, working conditions.

 

You have to be one dumb MF to be working for a paycheck and yet

voting for any ass hole republican.

[Rebelitarian]

Not voting in the Bilderberg parties all the time.

 

Forget the whole concept of living wage then.

They do it tho....

 

I agree with you William1444.

 

I don't know why the quote function isn't working for me today.

[nuckin futz]

Not as many were hired as could have been. Prices went up. Benefits were cut. Some lost hours. Were these effects brought into the calculations? If Washington has prospered under the raising of minimum wage law good for them. At some point tying the raise to inflation will begin to hurt employers. When that day comes employers will use the methods all employers do to control costs. Some may even leave the state.

Wrong!

 

They will just raise prices to compensate.

[Gallows 420]

Sure, and I believe if we can give people a livable wage for working 40 hours a week, that is reasonable.

Raising the minimum wage isn't going to come close to bridging the gap between the rich and poor, it'll just make a few people's lives easier.

it would be better to lower prices, then they can buy more with their dollar

 

raising the minimum wage is only a tax revenue increase

 

it would be much better to lower the price of gas $1

 

then everything would go down...

 

those mean greedy oil companies were making big bucks when gas was 15 cents a gallon...

 

you could fill your tank for $2 and they checked your oil, cleaned your windshield, etc...

 

like I said... "raising the minimum wage is only a tax revenue increase"

[Gallows 420]

does raising the minimum wage help the unemployed ? no, in fact it hurts them...

 

does lowering the price of gas help everyone ? yes, even those who dont buy gas...