St. Paul, Minnesota — Today, Minnesota’s minimum wage increased for the first time in a decade, rising to $8 an hour for most businesses. The wage will rise to $8.50 on August 1, 2015 before rising to $9.50 the following year and being indexed to inflation in 2018. For businesses with under $500,000 in gross sales the minimum wage is now $6.50 and will increase to $7.25 in 2015 and $7.75 in 2016.
State Representative Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley), chief author of the minimum wage legislation, released the following statement:
“Today Minnesota takes its first step in making our economy better reflect our values and the belief that hard work should pay. No one who works hard should live in poverty.
“Minnesotans throughout the state stood up and their advocacy is the reason this minimum wage increase is a reality. All Minnesotans should recognize that engaged citizens possess the real power to improve our state.
“Raising the minimum wage will increase the spending power of hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans and inject hundreds of millions of dollars into our state's economy. Today is another step toward an equal opportunity agenda that will create a stronger economy for all Minnesotans.”