The minimum wage rate has increased 19 times between 1966 and 2009. The U.S. added 24.3 million jobs in 13 of those 19 years, or 1.86 million jobs per year. These job increases did not disappear.

There were only six years where job totals declined after the minimum wage increased. The total decline in these six years was 2.55 million jobs or 425,000 per year. Even in these years, the job totals increased within 4 to 16 months after the minimum wage increased.

Increasing the minimum wage also increases family income. Median income increased after every minimum wage increase except for the last increase in 2009 when the U.S. was entering the Great Recession

The historical data is clear. Increasing the minimum wage adds jobs, usually millions of jobs. An increase also raises the median income for everyone. Raising the minimum wage is good for the American economy and good for American families.

John Boyle

Lower Macungie Township