The minimum wage increases in Seattle over the past several years have actually resulted in less hours worked for the poorest workers, resulting in less overall pay, according to a study by University of Washington researchers published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The Seattle Minimum Wage Ordinance raised the minimum wage from $9.47 to $11 per hour in 2015 and to $13 per hour in 2016. While the first wage increase had modest effects, researchers say the second wage increase reduced hours worked in low-wage jobs by around 9 percent, while hourly wages in such jobs increased by around 3 percent.
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Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
