Raise Colorado’s Minimum Wage

Colorado Experience in 2006 Coloradans voted to raise the minimum wage by 33% in November 2006 going from $5.15 to $6.85. Based on an analysis conducted by the Bell Policy Center and the Center for Law and Policy, we saw increased jobs in 2007 and 2008 following this increases. Total nonfarm jobs increased by 71,000 Restaurant jobs increased by 5,170 Jobs in rural counties increased by 6,431 This is consistent with research showing that increases in the minimum wage have minimal to no effect on jobs. The Great Recession hit in late 2008 and the number of jobs declined in 2009 and 2010.

Strong job growth after the 2006 minimum wage increase State and Area Employment, Hours, and Earnings Total Nonfarm, Not seasonally adjusted, 1999 – 2015, Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/sae/home.htm

Restaurant jobs grew after 2006 increase Restaurant industry employment has grown substantially, even following the 2006 minimum wage increase. Source: Labor Market Information, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Program, A23 Colorado Department of Labor and Employment https://www.colmigateway.com/vosnet/analyzer/results.aspx?session=ind202

Rural areas also saw job growth After the 2006 minimum wage increase, employment in rural counties increased by 6,000 jobs. Source: LAUS Unit, LAUS system output file A73, http://www.bls.gov/lau/data.htm