Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2008
According to Current Population Survey estimates for 2008, 75.3 million American workers age 16 and over were paid at hourly rates, representing 58.2 percent of all wage and salary workers.1 On July 24, 2008, the Federal minimum wage increased to $6.55 per hour from $5.85 per hour. Data in this report reflect the average number of workers earning the prevailing Federal minimum wage or less for the year (those who earned $5.85 or less from January 2008 through July 2008 and those who earned $6.55 or less from August 2008 through the end of the year). Among those paid by the hour, 286,000 earned exactly the prevailing Federal minimum wage in 2008. About 1.9 million had wages below the minimum.2 Together, these 2.2 million workers with wages at or below the minimum made up 3.0 percent of all hourly-paid workers. Tables 1-10 present data on a wide array of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics for hourly-paid workers earning at or below the Federal minimum wage. The following are some highlights from the 2008 data.
Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2012
In 2012, 75.3 million workers in the United States age 16 and over were paid at hourly rates, representing 59.0 percent of all wage and salary workers. 1 Among those paid by the hour, 1.6 million earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 2.0 million had wages below the federal minimum.2 Together, these 3.6 million workers with wages at or below the federal minimum made up 4.7 percent of all hourly paid workers. Tables 1 through 10 present data on a wide array of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics for hourly paid workers earning at or below the federal minimum wage. The following are some highlights from the 2012 data.
Thanks to this board during the Rick Perry presidential campaign, I learned that
job growth containing a significant percentage of minimum wage jobs should be shunned and demonized.
I also learned from this board that, for employees, a job isn't worth having if its at or below the minimum wage. I also learned that, for employers, a job isn't worth creating if its at or below the minimum wage.
Never thought an
increase in part-time work would be celebrated on this board, and just think how much economic growth would exist if government policy didn't create so many
discouraged workers. Service Employees International Union president
Mary Kay Henry said it best, "There are no other jobs to get." Which is the reason, as SEIU tries to organize fast-food workers, she wants wages raised to $15/hour so these jobs can become "good middle-class jobs".
On a brighter note, maybe this is a good example of employment rising when the cost of employment goes down. But wait, I forgot it's better to be unemployed if the job is low wage.