Employment Policies Institute

California faces the nation’s highest cost of living, with rents 53% above average and a 900,000-person out-migration since 2015. The state has responded with minimum wage hikes, including a $20 fast food wage, but debates persist over whether these measures raise prices or reduce employment. Housing construction remains stagnant at 100,000 units annually despite policy changes.

Los Angeles hotels are experiencing the largest job losses in a decade, with a 1.7% workforce decline in December 2025 compared to the prior year, attributed to aggressive minimum wage mandates. The city's hotel-specific wage requirement of $22.50 an hour, part of the 'Olympic Wage' ordinance, coincides with economic stagnation and industry struggles.

A proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $30 an hour backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is met with skepticism from economists, who warn it could lead to job losses and higher prices. The Employment Policies Institute found that 96% of surveyed economists oppose minimum wage hikes above $20 an hour. This comes as progressive lawmakers push for higher federal wage mandates to address rising costs of living.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $30 an hour is met with skepticism from economists, who warn it could lead to job losses and higher prices. The Employment Policies Institute found that 96% of surveyed economists oppose minimum wage hikes above $20 an hour. This proposal aims to address rising costs of living, but experts predict unintended consequences.

An economist from the Employment Policies Institute warns that Virginia's minimum wage hike to $15 by 2028 could lead to thousands of job losses, particularly in the service industry. Governor Abigail Spanberger, who signed the law, argues it will improve affordability for workers, but critics claim it will force businesses to cut hours or positions.