Study presents statistics about minimum-wage workers in Minnesota

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A study released by the Department of Labor and Industry estimates

95,000 Minnesota workers were paid $7.25 an hour or less during the year

ending July 2010; this represents 6.6 percent of the 1.45 million hourly

workers in the state.

The $7.25 hourly rate is the U.S. minimum wage; Minnesota's current

minimum wage is $6.15 an hour. Lower levels apply in some cases. Workers

who are covered by both the state and federal minimum-wage laws are

required to be paid the higher of the two applicable minimum-wage rates.

Findings from the report

- Adjusted for inflation, U.S. average hourly earnings were at about the

same level in 2010 as in 1970. However, the inflation-adjusted levels of

the Minnesota and U.S. minimum wages have fallen since 1974 (the first

year of Minnesota's minumum wage).

- Among 15- to 19-year-old hourly workers, 28 percent earned $7.25 an

hour or less, compared with 3.4 percent of 25- to 54-year-olds and 3.3

percent of those 55 and older.

- Of all Minnesota hourly workers paid $7.25 or less, 43 percent work in

food preparation and serving occupations.

- An estimated 29 percent of Minnesota workers at or below the minimum

wage received overtime pay, tips or commissions. Among workers at eating

and drinking places, this percentage was 52 percent.

- Those without a high-school degree made up 32 percent of all hourly

workers at or below the minimum, even though they comprised only 10

percent of the hourly workforce.

- Workers paid the minimum wage or less accounted for 8.2 percent of

hourly workers in nonmetropolitan Minnesota, as opposed to 5.9 percent

in metropolitan areas.

The study examines age, gender, education, marital status, poverty

status, full-time/part-time status, industry, occupation and

metro/nonmetro residence of Minnesota workers who are paid the minimum

wage or less.

The report is available online at www.dli.mn.gov/RS/MinWageReport.asp.

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