Changes

The 2009 recession gave a compelling picture of how an excessive minimum wage can exacerbate the employment climate.  None of the five states with the lowest unemployment rates in May 2009, all below 5.5%, had a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage of $6.55. Five of of the six states with the highest unemployment rates, all above 11.2%, had minimum wages above the federal minimum wage. [[Oregon]], with a minimum wage of $8.40, had an unemployment rate of 12.4%. Generally, states with a higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage had unemployment rates that were higher than states that did not have a higher minimum wage.<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/lau/ Bureau of Labor Statistics]</ref><ref>[http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm Department of Labor]</ref>

The 2009 recession gave a compelling picture of how an excessive minimum wage can exacerbate the employment climate.  None of the five states with the lowest unemployment rates in May 2009, all below 5.5%, had a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage of $6.55. Five of of the six states with the highest unemployment rates, all above 11.2%, had minimum wages above the federal minimum wage. [[Oregon]], with a minimum wage of $8.40, had an unemployment rate of 12.4%. Generally, states with a higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage had unemployment rates that were higher than states that did not have a higher minimum wage.<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/lau/ Bureau of Labor Statistics]</ref><ref>[http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm Department of Labor]</ref>

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![[State]]

![[State]]

|Minimum Wage prior to 7/24/2009 increase

|Minimum Wage prior to 7/24/2009 increase