By John Stossel
paid more. They’re the winners under the new law. But the losers are needier people: people who are looking for jobs. After Seattle raised its minimum wage to $15, entry-level job growth stalled. Job growth continued in the rest of Washington state but not in Seattle. The $15 minimum helped some people while hurting even poorer people. “It’s presented by minimum wage advocates as a win-win... no negatives,” complains a
skeptical Erin Shannon of the Washington Policy Center in my latest video. Shannon points out the negatives. For example, stores that once hired inexperienced kids and trained them, giving them valuable starter experience, stopped doing so once Seattle raised its minimum wage. “Politicians,” one store owner told my video producer, “have no sense whatsoever about what it means to small businesses like us.” Today, for companies with more than 500 workers, Seattle’s minimum wage is $16 per hour.
American Consequences
33
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online