Americans Support $15 Federal Minimum Wage, Ipsos Research Shows
A majority of Americans support increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, according to research by Ipsos published in March 2021. The current $7.25 minimum wage has been in effect since 2009.
A significant majority of Americans favor raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, according to research conducted by Ipsos and released in March 2021. The study, which surveyed over 6,000 U.S. adults, suggests that such an increase is seen by the public as a catalyst for economic recovery.
The research highlights that the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, established in July 2009, has seen the longest period without an increase since its inception. With rising inflation, the purchasing power of these wages has diminished considerably over the past 12 years.
As of the study's publication, 29 states and Washington D.C. had already implemented minimum wages exceeding the federal rate. Several states, including California and New York, are on a trajectory to reach $15 per hour within the next two years through gradual increases.
Amazon, which commissioned the research and pays its U.S. employees a minimum of $15 per hour, stated its goal was to underscore the daily challenges faced by those earning less than $15. The company indicated it would continue advocating for higher minimum wages and encouraging other large employers to do the same.