Policy Analysis: Minimum Wage in the Portland Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Oregon’s current minimum wage of $9.25 per hour is unsustainable as it does not provide adequate nutritional resources or housing for full time employees. Additionally, employers of minimum wage workers often rely on social safety net benefits for their workers which effectively subsidize wages. This creates an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer. Oregon Senate Bill 1532 increases the minimum wage incrementally within Portland’s Metropolitan Area to $14.75 in 2022. This wage provides full time minimum wage workers enough income for adequate nutrition and reasonable housing while reducing reliance on social safety net programs.

Keywords

• Local Minimum Wages
• Portland
• Oregon
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Low Wage Demographics
• Wage Subsidization