Living on Minimum Wage

A national debate is underway in the United States over whether to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour from the current $7.25 an hour today, as more than 30 million U.S. citizens now live below the poverty line.

The last time the U.S. increased the hourly federal minimum wage was in 2009.

According to economists and advocates, the $7 an hour rate in at least 20 U.S. states is to blame for the increase in poverty in the nation. However, in some states it's legal to pay even lower than the minimum wage. For example, in the state of Wyoming, some residents are paid as little as $5.15 an hour or even less. And they haven’t seen a wage increase in 20 years.
  
Low wages present social and economic barriers for many families in Wyoming where almost 20% of the state’s residents live in poverty. Many of them are single, low-wage working mothers, some holding down two or three jobs, to buy food and clothing for their children.
 
Mike Kirsch takes us to one of the hardest-working U.S. states when it comes to earning low wages... Wyoming. 

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[Gary]

I don't know what's worse getting 7.25 an hr or having taxes taken out of that.

[katel]

$7.25 per hour is insulting in 2021. I made that amount, but it was 25 years ago.

[jack_lin]

When I worked at a restaurant as a cook and a waiter, I swore to myself that I will never work in a resturant again. Too much work for so little pay.

[corneilusdonaldson]

They were worried about firing employees if the minimum wage were raised, however, most employees are quitting instead! I love it!

[lovelife]

Low wages is why so many Americans are on food stamps, housing assistance and medical assistance.

[colsch]

Hi! I'm the economist from the video. I just wanted to thank you for watching this piece and I encourage you to share this and discuss what the minimum wage should be in the US. Have a wonderful day!

[djjoshski]

*2 dollars an hour is easy to find on the ground than working a job*

[ironmantis]

When looking at how devalued the US dollar is and rising inflation, $7.25 an hour is a crime.

[helengarrett]

I raised two children on low wage jobs and they suffered nutritionally and in social ways too. I still live a low wage existance at 80 years old because social security is based on your lifetime employment wage. So that is an entire lifetime of struggle, working two jobs until I physically broke down and scrounging.

[taebby]

There is absolutely no reason that a huge corporation would have to lay off employees in order to pay $15 an hour. The CEO just needs to get a grip on reality and ditch the yacht.

[treyd]

This is the sadder side of the US. Atleast we have free healthcare here in Canada and minimum wage in Alberta is $15/hour.

[reginafisher]

When I started working at age 16 the minimum wage was $4.25 an hour now I am 46 and it is $7.25 something is very wrong with that it's called greed. CEOs would rather put that in their pockets then raise wages and scare us that if our wages raised prices would raise the truth of the matter is everything has already raised except for our pay the pay we should be getting bought the CEO the next big house or the next large trip end of story

[themax]

They shouldn't only focus on the minimum wage, but the cost of living as well.

[tigerztail]

Why is the poor elderly lady providing for others? She should be retired and taken care of. So sad.

[kel]

I think not having children young and working hard helped me to escape poverty.

[mikewilloughby]

I remember when I was in college sacking groceries, the owner told his friend that he has to pay his bag boys$1.60 an hour. I was paying my way through college, but by the grace of God I graduated. The poor are so mistreated. It makes me mad as hell! Mike from Tennessee!

[azteca]

The elderly lady should be enjoying her golden years...

[pamelamays]

Millionaire law makers consistently vote against raising the minimum wage.

[VoytenTechnologies]

I needed experience, a diploma and three references to get a desk job at a hospital an I got $14.00/hour.. the Taco Bell down the street was hiring at $15.00/hour. The f***?

[neonnoir]

Having kids is the last thing you need to do. We grew up in poverty to single mothers in a poor town and I knew I had to take drastic measures to escape that life. We're all in our 30s now and all the girls I grew up with remain in poverty with kids of their own, still relying on their now elderly moms. We all took the govt money for free college - I'm the only one who didn't drop out to go "have fun". And that's with caring for my chronically ill mother. It's hard, but you gotta make it work no matter what. Instead of living off my mom in her golden years, I'm supporting her and making sure her last years aren't in poverty.