17 States and Localities Raise Minimum Wages, Lifting Pay by $221 Million
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Jul 6
17 States and Localities Raise Minimum Wages, Lifting Pay by $221 Million
2 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Jul 6
Summary
July 1 wage hikes in 17 states and localities are set to raise earnings for about 361,000 workers by a combined $221 million, with Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. among the jurisdictions increasing rates.
The increases aim to offset inflation after the federal minimum wage stayed at $7.25 an hour for 17 years, leaving workers on that floor earning 27.4% less in real terms in 2022 than in 2009, EPI said.
That federal stagnation has widened regional pay gaps: 30 states and Washington, D.C. now set wages above the federal level, while 20 states still use $7.25 as their baseline.
Washington state now has the highest statewide minimum wage at $17.13 an hour, versus the federal floor in 20 states, as Congress weighs proposals including a phased path to a $25 national minimum wage.
As states mandate pay transparency, is the era of employer salary secrecy and negotiation leverage coming to an end?
Could this wave of pro-worker laws backfire by forcing businesses to cut jobs or automate to cope with rising costs?
How will the EEOC's new enforcement plan impact corporate diversity programs now viewed as potential enforcement concerns?
The 2025-2026 Surge in Worker Protections: Key State Laws on Wages, Paid Leave, and Non-Competes
Overview
In 2025 and 2026, the United States saw a major shift in employment law, with at least 15 states enacting important worker protection reforms. These changes focused on expanding pay protections, introducing comprehensive paid leave, and placing new restrictions on non-compete agreements. Together, these reforms aimed to improve worker mobility, increase wage transparency, and strengthen job security, especially for older and lower-wage workers. The combined effect of these actions is the creation of a stronger framework for worker protections, marking the beginning of a new era in employment law across the country.