Minimum Wage Increase Does Help Many

Minimum wage earners in Oregon are bringing home paychecks that are a tiny big larger than in 2010.  The State's minimum wage increased by 10¢ an hour to $8.50.  The increase affects about 87,000 Oregonians. Recent college graduate Laura Baker makes just above minimum wage. She says the extra $20 or so a month really helps: “For a salaried person, that may sound a little bit trivial, but for people who are just struggling to make sure they can go buy groceries, twenty bucks is a lot. That can help you buy a bus pass. It can help you buy school supplies for your kids." Baker says she works two lower paid, part-time jobs and has been unable to find work in her chosen profession. The national employment law project reports so that about 67% of minimum wage earners are women