Gov. Wolf fulfills commitment to raise minimum wage for PA workers

PA - (WOLF) — Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will fulfill its commitment to raise the minimum wage for commonwealth employees to $15 per hour by January 31, 2022.

An increase to $12 would directly benefit 765,000 Pennsylvania workers, or more than 13 percent of the employed population. An increase to $15 would directly benefit nearly 1.5 million workers, or 25 percent of Pennsylvania workers.

According to a new report from the National Employment Law Project, 21 states raised their minimum wages on Jan. 1, 2022. Four more states have increases slated for later in the year.

Eight states are on a path to $15, including red states, and President Joe Biden is raising the federal minimum wage for contractors to $15. Overall, 30 other states have a higher minimum wage than Pennsylvania, leaving our workers behind with a wage floor of only $7.25.

As stated in the release:

Raising the minimum wage would also help to close the pay gap. Women and people of color will gain stronger financial stability with a $15 minimum wage. Six in ten workers who would get a pay boost are women, representing nearly 24 percent of all women in the state. Additionally, 35 percent of Hispanic workers, 29 percent of Black workers and 18 percent of Asian workers would directly benefit. 75 percent of the workers who would earn more for their hard work are age 20 or older and nearly 40 percent work full-time

“Raising the minimum wage is about providing sustainability for working families,” said Gov. Wolf. “It’s about ensuring that Pennsylvanians aren’t being left behind. And it’s about putting our commonwealth on the path to a brighter economic future.”

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