Workers on the lowest rung of the pay scale got a slight boost last week when the federal minimum wage was raised to $7.25 an hour. The third and final installment in the federal minimum wage is a good effort to put more money into the economy but a long way from giving the lowest-paid workers a living wage.
Pennsylvania is one of 23 states where some full-time workers will enjoy a raise. The raise in Pennsylvania amounts to 10 cents, or an extra $4 a week before taxes. Even for the thriftiest consumers, that’s not enough to purchase an additional loaf of bread and gallon of milk.
While the increase won’t help very much, it will boost the buying power of those who need it most. Minorities, teens and young adults have traditionally represented the largest segment of low-skilled employees.
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