The current minimum wage law, effective since 2016, had planned increases linked to inflation, now pushing the wage to $16 for 2023 and $16.50 in January.
Local officials have reacted to rising living costs, leading 40 cities and counties in California to implement minimum wages higher than the state’s own, especially in urban areas.
Unions have pivoted toward securing industry-specific wage floors, with fast food workers earning a minimum of $20 and Los Angeles hotel workers advocating for wages as high as $30.
The labor market dynamics since the pandemic have surprisingly benefited low-wage workers, who experienced quicker raises than their higher-wage counterparts for the first time in two decades.
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