North Carolina has more low-wage workers than national average
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More than 1.5 million workers, or roughly 28% of the workforce in North Carolina, make less than $17 per hour, according to new data from Oxfam.
Why it matters: The national average is 23.2%, and the study argues that North Carolina's decision to not raise the minimum wage has held its number back.
The big picture: Wages nationally are higher now in part because of inflation, and a strong labor market where lower-wage employees are still in high demand. But it's also due to the work of advocates who pushed for minimum wage increases for more than a decade.
- Plus: Pandemic-era benefits helped these workers be choosier about finding better-paying jobs coming out of 2020's record unemployment.
State of play: In neighboring Virginia, for example, just 21.5% of workers earn less than $17 per hour, and Virginia's minimum wage has gradually gone up since 2020. It's $12 an hour today versus $7.25 four years ago, Axios Richmond reported.
- North Carolina's minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour.
Zoom in: The report shows there are wage disparities for women and people of color as well.
- 33.4% of working women make below $17 per hour in North Carolina compared to 24.7% of working men.
- 39.1% of Black workers and 44.4% of Hispanic workers in the state made below $17 per hour, compared to 25.2% of white workers. 21% of Asian American and American Indian workers made below $17 per hour.
Of note: Just 10.6% of workers making below $17 per hour were teenagers, according to Oxfam.
