Iowa's decision not to join neighboring states in raising the minimum wage could cause Iowa workers to move out of state.
The minimum wage was raised this year in the bordering states of Illinois, South Dakota, Minnesota and Missouri. Minimum wage levels are set to rise this year in a total of 24 states, according to KCRG.
The current rate of $7.25 per hour is too low, and this leads to many families being unable to save money, Linn County Supervisor Ben Rogers told KCRG. Rogers suggested low wages could be why hiring is difficult in Eastern Iowa.
Rogers in 2017 proposed to increase Iowa’s minimum wage to $10.25 per hour, but the move was denied by the state legislature. The legislature also banned county-and-city-level increases in the minimum wage.
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