The fast food industry in California has lost 16,000 jobs since the state implemented its new $20 minimum wage law.
The data comes from Berkeley Research Group which found that fast food prices in California have increased 14.5 percent, which is double the national average.
Per Just the News:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ quarterly employment survey covers 95% of American jobs, and is considered the gold standard for jobs and wage data. Now its latest report shows California fast food jobs declined from 570,909 in September 2023 to 554,748 in September 2024.
“Some advocates for the fast food minimum wage have already branded the 25% increase a success,” wrote BRG, whose research team included the former head of the state-funded Legislative Analyst’s Office. “According to them, not only have fast food workers received higher pay because of the increase, but the number of jobs available to these workers has increased as well. However, these claims are not supported by reliable data.”
The BRG report notes jobs declined in December 2023, which in this century only occurred during the Great Recession in 2009 and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and that employers have cut hours and benefits to offset wage increases.
Naturrally, democrat Governor Gavin Newsom has been pushing the lie that fast food industry jobs have grown in his state. And Just the News points out the jury-rigged data Newsom has used to make his false claim.
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