Minimum wage in Illinois has been increased in all categories. The minimum wage for workers 18 and over has increased to 15 dollars an hour. Workers younger than 18 now have a minimum wage of 13 dollars an hour. While workers in the service industry who receive tips now have a minimum wage of nine dollars an hour.
This is the seventh and final increase in the state’s minimum wage that was included in legislation signed by Governor Pritzker in 2019.
“Since day one of my administration, I’ve made it my mission to build an economy that works for everyone and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour fulfills that promise to our working families,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This increase honors the workers who power our state and ensures they can better support their families, bringing us closer to a stronger, more equitable economy for all.”
“As the cost of living has gone up, the wage increases enacted by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Pritzker have helped Illinois workers pay for their everyday expenses,” said Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan. “As we welcome the new year, we can also celebrate that hourly workers will be getting a bump in pay.”
ILEPI (Illinois Economic Policy Institute) stated that the most recent wage increase is set to take 100,000 people out of poverty, but still isn’t enough to make a living by yourself. In order to live on your own and make a living you would have to make 28.81 for an apartment in the chicago land area. The average living cost is $2,851.50, people making minimum wage are making 1,800 a month meaning they would be 1,000 dollars short of just affording an apartment. Also meaning people wouldn’t even be able to save any money incase of an emergency.
When talking to Junior Cole Vanderwal he said “ working two shifts and minimum wage getting increased from $12 to $13 is nice.”
Since juniors and seniors get to go out for lunch it’s nice to be making more money to pay for food.
He also mentioned “Saving money is getting a lot easier and work is kinda fun now.”
With food prices increasing, minimum wage will help other students that have jobs, getting paid minimum wage pay for food.
The minimum wage increase is beneficial to workers in Illinois, but many other states still have a $7.25 minimum wage.
