Oklahoma voters will decide tomorrow on State Question 832, a ballot measure that would raise the state's minimum wage for the first time in nearly 20 years. If approved, the wage would rise from 7.25 dollars an hour to 15 dollars an hour by 2029, and then be adjusted based on inflation going forward.
The minimum wage in Oklahoma has not increased since 2009, something supporters say is one of the most compelling arguments in favor of the measure. Rather than taking effect all at once, the proposed increase would be phased in over time before reaching the 15 dollar level.
Opponents warn of economic harm if the measure passes. Dalton Miller, with the State Chamber of Oklahoma, says the approach goes too far, arguing that setting an escalator on the minimum wage without any cap or any oversight would do a lot of harm to the state's economy.
Miller also says the change could hurt young workers in particular. He warns that higher labor costs would mean fewer opportunities for young people to get into the workforce in the first place and learn the skills that they need to build their careers.
An Oklahoma economist, Travis Roach of the University of Central Oklahoma, says the research is not so clear cut. Looking specifically at employment for 14 to 18 year olds, he says you really cannot tell a difference, noting that some studies find small positive employment effects for teens while others find negative ones.
Roach adds that research on price increases tied to minimum wage hikes shows the effects are typically small, on the order of one to three percent. He argues the gains in spending power point to more benefits than drawbacks, including less reliance on SNAP, less food poverty, and more children able to go to school with a full stomach.