@ISIDEWITHQuestionseconomyStarted 13yrs agoActive 7hrs ago

Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?

The federal minimum wage is the lowest wage at which employers may pay their employees. In 2015 the minimum wage increased by 2.5 percent to $16 per week. Proponents of a higher minimum argue that the 2.5% increase in 2015 is not high enough to cover basic costs like healthcare and education which are increasing by 5% a year. Opponents argue that raising the minimum wage will increase unemployment and make it harder for lower income workers to find jobs.

+
Expand
+ Settings x  Liberal Democrats

Toggle voterbase

Statistics are shown for this demographic

Answer Overview

Response rates from 10.7k Liberal Democrats voters.

34%
Yes
64%
No
29%
Yes
50%
No
4%
Yes, and adjust it every year according to inflation
6%
No, and eliminate all wage standards
1%
Yes, and make it a living wage
5%
No, this will only cause prices to increase in a never ending cycle
4%
No, most minimum wage jobs are meant to develop experience, not support a family

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 10.7k Liberal Democrats voters.

Loading data...

Loading chart... 

Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 10.7k Liberal Democrats voters.

Loading data...

Loading chart... 

Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from Liberal Democrats voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @9K6H4T4answered…12mos12MO

Yes make it a living wage, adjust it every year, look at cost of living and inflation, and ensure citizens have their basic needs met

 @4ZMQR6Sfrom New South Wales  answered…4yrs4Y

How about lower the cost of living?

 @B2S7K6Vanswered…2wks2W

No, because companies use minimum wage increases to justify increasing their costs. What would help is if the tax free threshold was increased significantly - to say $40,000

 @9HRDHPHanswered…1yr1Y

Regardless, the minimum wage should be abolished and workers should organise to negotiate industrial wages.

 @9TQPHWXanswered…5mos5MO

The repairs should federal cycle is cause price range and minimums family support as said government feedback admins

 @9K7CMXQanswered…12mos12MO

I think they should first address the issues that are requiring them to raise the minimum wage. For example Australia is currently in a cost of living crisis housing/renting crisis which are making everyday items and the ability to live incredibly expensive. Minimum wage should always be aligned with a liveable wage, but if those issues aren’t addressed first, prices will only keep rising and rising and minimum wage would only keep increasing, having substantial effects on the economy.

 @92JZ2MPanswered…3yrs3Y

Wages need to increase to match the cost of living. Inflation in this country is ridiculous.

 @92GK5YQanswered…3yrs3Y

It should continue to be independently set by Fair Work Australia

Latest News

Stay up-to-date on the most recent “Minimum Wage” news articles, updated frequently.

 @M0derateImpala from Minnesota submitted…9mos9MO

Companies Cut Worker Hours After California’s $25-an-Hour Minimum-Wage

California's budget deficit has ballooned to $45 billion. Mr. Newsom projects that the new healthcare minimum wage would cost the state $4 billion more a year owing to higher Medicaid costs and compensation for workers at state-owned facilities. Legislative analyses warned about these costs, but Mr. Newsom signed the law anyway.California’s current minimum wage for all workers is $16 an hour. Nearly all workers at healthcare facilities including janitors will have to be paid at least $25 an hour by 2028.California’s wage minimums are another illustration of how progressive mandates boomerang. Average weekly earnings for leisure and hospitality employees in California have declined by 2.6% over the last year owing to a steep drop in hours worked. By contrast, those average weekly earnings rose 3% nationwide, 3.2% in Florida and 5.2% in Texas.California’s wage minimums are another illustration of how progressive mandates boomerang. Average weekly earnings for leisure and hospitality employees in California have declined by 2.6% over the last year owing to a steep drop in hours worked. By contrast, those average weekly earnings rose 3% nationwide, 3.2% in Florida and 5.2% in Texas.Average hourly earnings for California leisure and hospitality workers have also increased more slowly—2.1% compared to 3.8% nationwide—no doubt partly because the state’s softer labor market has reduced competition for workers.When government raises wages above what the market commands, employers will increase prices and reduce labor. California, QED.

Popular Conversations

Join in on the most popular conversations.