Mark Harmsworth of the Washington Policy Center points out that the results of a high artificial minimum wage are exactly the opposite of the proponents desired result
Mark Harmsworth
Washington Policy Center
Washington State Labor and Industries (L&I) has announced that 2023 minimum wage rate will be set at $15.74 which is a $1.25 increase over 2022.
In a press release on the L&I website, the agency attributes the 8.66% increase to change in “the cost of common goods such as housing, food, and medical care as reflected in the Consumer Price Index.”
According to minimum-wage.org, Washington will have the highest statewide minimum wage in the country. The highest minimum wage in the nation, including municipalities that can set their own rates, is in Washington state, Sea Tac at $17.53 followed by Seattle at $17.27.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25.
Increasing the minimum wage to such a high level destroys jobs, reduces available work hours and causes inflation. Businesses will often relocate away from areas that have high minimum wages creating longer commutes for workers that chose to stay with the employer or elimination of the jobs completely.
Nowhere is the harm imposed by a high minimum wage demonstrated more clearly than in Seattle, where the city council has aggressively increased the minimum wage over the last few years. The rash of restaurant closures and lost jobs can be attributed, in many cases, directly to the additional fiscal cost the minimum wage increases have caused.
As a recent University of Washington study concluded, “local minimum wage laws are not likely to substantially reduce earnings inequality,” it is obvious that government controls on wages, such as minimum wage and hazard pay have no long-term effects on workers’ overall income. The results of a high artificial minimum wage are exactly the opposite of the proponents desired result. High minimum wages reduce income and destroy jobs for those lower wage earners.
Mark Harmsworth is the director of the Small Business Center at the Washington Policy Center.
Also read:
- Letter: ‘Something is wrong when our vote means nothing’
Bob Zak challenges the political handling of the I-5 Bridge project and urges voters to demand accountability. - Letter: ‘This is a time for bold leadership, clear advocacy, and strong representation’Justin Forsman of Vancouver announces his candidacy for mayor and outlines a bold new platform focused on rights, infrastructure, and local governance.
- Opinion: Schools notifying parents about the kinds of care kids can decide on their own didn’t make it
Elizabeth New criticizes the removal of Amendment 1164 from current legislation, arguing it leaves parents uninformed about health care services accessed by their children through schools. - Opinion: Off-road vehicles in the neighborhoodDoug Dahl responds to a resident’s concern about off-road vehicles on neighborhood streets, outlining the legal violations and safety risks involved.
- POLL: Is America more united or more divided than it was a decade ago?Clark County Today’s weekly poll asks: Is America more united or more divided today? The question comes after Stephen Davis brought a powerful message to Vancouver.
What do you make Mark? 15 an hour for a person that works 2000 hours is 30k a year. Can you live on that, Mark? Put your kids through college, feed them, care for an elderly parent. You’re a hack. Minimum wage should be higher.
Minimum or starting wage. How much should a beginner, no work history, 16 year old be paid?
That wage applies to may 30 or 50 year old with kids. And a 16 year old or an 18 year old still needs a roof and maybe going to community college.. or unfortunately, hand a kid too soon.
Mark, you need to do a reality check That is $2500.00 per month. My nephew in Walla Walla, going and paying for his own college, pays $1200 a month rent for a bedroom in private home. Seattle Restaurants closed because they couldn’t find workers who can afford to live anywhere near work. The last I heard businesses are struggling to find service workers because there are better paying jobs available.
Yes, the author willfully ignores the strong labor market. European countries have a high minimum wage and they still have restaurants. If a restaurant is struggling to be profitable with the given minimum wage, they have the option of increasing prices or becoming more efficient.