Long Beach Rising : A City that Works for Everyone

Over 54,000 workers employed in Long Beach's formal economy will be affected by increasing the minimum wage to $15. The annual earnings of workers will increase by about $405 million. The largest share of increased wages — almost $130 million — will go to workers who also live in the City of Long Beach The greatest number of affected workers and the largest payroll increases will be in restaurants, retail trade, education, transportation and warehousing, and health care.Added income from a $15 minimum wage will help over 6,500 workers with jobs in Long Beach rise out of poverty by 2020. Every worker who escapes poverty brings an average of 1.3 additional family members along with them. Over 14,600 people, including 5,900 children, will be lifted out of poverty by Long Beach's higher minimum wage. The share of workers in poverty will drop from 10.3 percent to 5.7 percent. And there will be a reduction of $78 million in public assistance expenditures, including a $26 million dollar reduction in cash aid payments