A record number of states and cities are set to raise their minim wage in 2022, Axios reports.
Twenty-five states and 56 municipalities will raise their minimum wage some time in the next year, according to the National Employment Law Project.
Of those, 21 states and 35 cities will raise the minimum wages immediately on Saturday while other states have later dates.
In many areas, the minimum wage will exceed $15 per hour.
By the end of 2022, 47 cities and counties will have a minimum wage of $15 or more, with subsequent inflationary increases already approved.
On the other hand, 20 states have not raised their minimum wage beyond the federal minimum, which has been set at $7.25 per hour since 2009.
Pandemic moved the needle:
The increases come amid a labor shortage partially caused by low pay for essential workers.
"Low pay, a lack of job security, and poor working conditions are endemic to service and other frontline jobs, with disproportionate effects on Black women, Latinas, and Asian Americans of any gender," the NELP report said.
“Underpaid workers, especially Black and brown workers, have been mobilizing to demand higher wages, safer workplace conditions, and dignified jobs — and they’re succeeding," said NELP executive director Rebecca Dixon.
Parents set for pay cut:
While minimum wages are increasing, vital aid for parents is set to be cut off on Saturday. Most parents have been getting $300 per month for their kids for the past year but the expanded Child Tax Credit is set to expire this weekend after Congress failed to renew it.
The credit may still be extended next year but Sen. Joe Manchin has pushed back on the idea. As a result, the average parent of two kids is set to lose $7,600 per year.
Congress also sought to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 but the idea was shot down by Democratic holdout Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and other moderate Democrats.
