Want to Cut Food Stamp Spending? Raise the Minimum Wage

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/12/03-5


Supporters hold signs during a raise the minimum wage rally held on Oct. 22, 2013 in Journal Square in Jersey City. The measure was ultimately passed by state voters, but the national trend shows that a federal and more substantial increase is desperately needed. (Photo: Alyssa Ki/The Jersey Journal)


Wednesday President Obama will give a speech on his plan to grow the economy and the middle class. Thursday fast-food workers will strike in 100 cities and stage protests in 100 others to demand $15 an hour and the right to form a union without interference from employers. Here’s something to consider: raising the minimum wage cuts government spending on Food Stamps and other programs.

The Minimum Wage

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 1.57 million people in the United States make the minimum wage, and another 1.98 million make even less. These 3.6 million workers make up 4.7 percent of all hourly-wage workers. People who are supposedly paid tips and people under 20 can be paid less than this minimum. Some states allow businesses that are not engaged in interstate commerce (and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the federal government) to pay less. Some territories – notably American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands – also are allowed to pay less.

Of those who make minimum wage or less 44% are in food preparation and serving related occupations, 15% are in sales and related occupations, 9.7% in personal care and service occupations, 6.5% in building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations, 6.8% in transportation and material moving occupations and 6.4% in office and administrative support occupations. (Note that the largest sector that is below minimum wage is in food preparation and serving related occupations, with 16.5% of all workers who make minimum or less.)

The average age of fast-food workers is 29 and more than a fourth are raising children. 64% of those making the minimum wage are women.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

1. Exactly,

a raise in the minimum wage would shift the subsidies from taxpayers and put it on business where it should be.

[Laelth]

2. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth