Gallup Poll :Minimum Wage Has No Impact on Small Business

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Wells Fargo-Gallup Small Business Index shows nearly half support increasing the minimum wage
The federal minimum wage was last increased nearly a decade ago and remains at its 1997 level of $5.15 an hour. Recently, however, Arkansas became the 20th state to raise its own state minimum wage above the federal minimum wage. Given the relatively stagnant wages of low-income workers during recent years and the surging gas prices of recent weeks, it will not be surprising if pressure builds for more states -- and even the federal government -- to reconsider current minimum wage laws.
Surprisingly, a new Wells Fargo-Gallup Small Business Index poll, conducted March 1-15, 2006, finds significant support among small-business owners for increasing the minimum wage.

Not Hiring Minimum Wage Workers

Eight in 10 small-business owners say they hire their new employees at a wage level that exceeds the current minimum wage. Of the 14% of small businesses who do hire employees at the minimum wage, two in three say they do not expect to keep their new employees at that wage for more than a year. One in three of these new minimum wage employees are also hired on only a temporary basis.

No Minimum Wage Impact on Small Business

Eighty-six percent of small-business owners say the minimum wage has no effect on their businesses. For that matter, nearly as many small-business owners say the minimum wage has a positive effect on their business (5%) as say it has a negative effect (8%). In fact, three in four small-business owners say a 10% increase in the minimum wage would have no effect on their companies.

Support for Increasing the Minimum Wage

Forty-six percent of small-business owners say they believe the minimum wage should be increased while only 34% believe it should remain where it is now. Only 2% believe the minimum wage should be reduced although 14% think it should be eliminated altogether.

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Non-Issue for Small-Business Owners
http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=22711

[jsamuel]

1. minimum wage would be Democrat's "gay marriage", it would drive voters to

the polls to vote Dem...

[Zenlitened]

2. I agree. It's just the kind of bread-and-butter issue people are...

... thinking about right now. Hope Doc Dean has seen this report!

:thumbsup:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Agreed.

We should be all over this issue. It might even get us the youth vote.