States ring in New Year with job-killing minimum wage hikes

The sound of small-business storefronts slamming closed could replace bright, ringing sounds of the holiday season as state minimum wage laws were phased in last month and in 2019. While a government-mandated pay raise might sound like the perfect New Year’s bonus, it won’t be for people who lose their jobs as a result.

In December, businesses with more than 11 employees had to start paying $15 an hour in New York state, and this month minimum wages go up in Florida, Ohio, California, and Arizona. Other states have recently hiked theirs and more may be on the way.