Washington minimum wage to top $16 an hour next year

[SerlingHitchcockJPeele]

It all rolls down hill to the consumer, but at least they’re trying something. Inflation is too high to be getting paid the same as before.

[fluffydelusions]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

Aren't most fast food jobs in major metros already paying $17+ these days? I've seen gas stations hiring cashiers for $20.

I guess in like Yakima or Othello the high minimum wage might be more noticeable than in the Seattle metro.

The panda express near me last time I drove by it had a sign in the window and it was over $20/hr for dishing out food.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Is there any data to show that remote workers are responsible for the increase in housing value?

I should have qualified that: "Remote workers are driving up housing values and rents statewide outside of the Seattle metro/Puget Sound Corridor." For a case in point, see Aberdeen:

https://www.king5.com/article/news/l...c-2811f984caa3 ("Aberdeen near top of rankings for U.S. real estate, population growth")

https://amp.tri-cityherald.com/news/...267988882.html ("Here are Washington state’s top real estate growth markets, according to a recent study") - "1. Grays Harbor County- 110.53%"

[Pughnose]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

But that's 12 friggin' dollars for a darn burrito! No student on financial aid can afford that more than once/week, if that. As UW staff, we'd all bring sack lunches. And the offices didn't have fridges back then, no coffee machines. They probably still don't. Not that we ever needed any of that. Students can make their own burritos to bring in their backpack for probably about $3.00, maybe less.

It's an hour's work at minimum wage. When I started working at $2.65, a good big burrito might have cost that. But I bet it was fancy enough to be brought on a plate.

I feel ya. My budget is inelastic so I eat well but go out seldom anymore.

[CalWorth]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

https://www.king5.com/article/news/l...c-2811f984caa3 ("Aberdeen near top of rankings for U.S. real estate, population growth")

WHAT?? OK, that’s crazy! GREED!

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

That is a fundamental question of American capitalism that likely can't be solved by UW or the state of Washington.

It's being solved by employers via hiring fewer employees.
I'm not adding any. My farm crops can't support minimum hourly wages paid. My technical and driver jobs can be subbed out, cheaper , and no liability, L&I, medical coverage required.

Time to go employee-less

Will pan out for UAW and striking teachers too.

Automation and Al and outsourcing will replace warm bodies. (including teachers). It would be great to outsource USA education to one of many countries who deliver results!

[jabogitlu]

Doesn't seem like it to me. We can't keep the labor market down. Maybe your business model is obsolete.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by CalWorth

WHAT?? OK, that’s crazy! GREED!

Well, values were very low in Aberdeen because unemployment and poverty were high and well-paying jobs were scarce. Remote workers are bringing higher incomes into the area, which helps to boot-strap the local economy. When demand exceeds supply, prices go up. Flippers and renovators help to add properties to the supply that otherwise couldn't be financed, and buy supplies/materials and pay skilled workers. As demand is met over time, price increases should slow down and moderate. Apartment rents in Seattle are actually falling because rising supply is exceeding slumping demand. Single-family houses, however, which are often cannibalized by MFH projects, are still in short-supply.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Doesn't seem like it to me. We can't keep the labor market down. Maybe your business model is obsolete.

How many employees did you have 10 yrs ago?
How many today?
How many employees have you projected to add in the next yr?

Do you serve a retail sector?

Do you have plans to abandon business processes that are costing you additional $$, without the additional profits to cover the growing expenses?


Some highly profitable and low capital businesses can do this. But most businesses with high labor and capital costs cannot absorb true additive costs, unless they are able to penetrate a new product / customer base.

WA makes it MUCH easier to run a business that is comprised of contract employees and leased equipment. Many tasks cannot be assigned as 'Contract employees'.

[Hemlock140]

My employer was at about 2,000 employees in the recession of 2008, when there were layoffs and voluntary separations. We were at about 2,100 when Covid hit, and lost about 100 due to their failure to get vaccinated, with a hiring freeze for two years. Since then HR has been very busy recruiting for almost every department, including one hire for my team. Currently we have 32 openings advertised, ranging from $65k to $197k. I just looked at our pay scale list, and the lowest pay is mail messenger, at just over $25/hour, and our summer interns High School, College, and Graduate get $19-$29. Our pay analysts are constantly looking at other company pay rates to make sure we remain competitive to attract the best possible people. When the minimum wage goes up, so must everyone else's to maintain that distance above the minimum.