Persuasive Essay Sample: The Minimum Wage Must Be Raised

“Trying to just Survive” were the words of a man interviewed about his view on the minimum wage (Lenahan). The minimum wage is a topic that divides those who live working minimum wage jobs and policymakers. The minimum wage has been a topic up for debate for a while as workers find the federal minimum wage of $7.50 simply unlivable anymore. At the same time, prominent political policymakers refuse to give in to the truth behind the workers' plea as they worry about significant business and inflation. Although raising the minimum would increase price inflation, raising the minimum wage is essential, as it would provide a livable wage for low-income workers while stimulating and growing the economy.

Minimum wage workers struggle to make ends meet as they find that making 7.50 an hour is not enough for the cost of living anymore. According to “Should, the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?” As decided 13 years ago, the minimum wage is $7.25; in 1968, it was $1.60, when adjusting to inflation, that is equivalent to $11.16. When adjusting for inflation to today’s standard, the minimum wage is “53.9% higher than today’s $7.25 federal minimum wage” (Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased). The 53.9% difference shows that the minimum wage must be revised as workers suffer from making essentially 3.91 an hour less than they would if inflation was adjusted. This dramatically impacts the workers' social mobility as workers are barely floating above the poverty line, without dependents. Factoring in two dependents would mean that “the federal minimum of $7.25 leaves an adult with two children thousands of dollars below the federal poverty threshold” (Raising the Minimum Wage: Good for Workers, Businesses). The sad reality of the minimum wage and families who struggle with a single income on minimum wage is the struggle to make a decent life and fund their children's education and lifestyle. This adds to the growing concerns of starting a family. People struggle with monetary issues, live paycheck to paycheck, and worry about covering their essential bills. The minimum wage is a change that must be made to completely change the lives of everyday workers and increase social mobility in the United States. 

Additionally, increasing the minimum wage would help stimulate the economy while causing more worker productivity and a stable workforce. While initially, it could be a concern that raising the minimum wage would affect the job opportunities as a business would not want to hire employees due to the cost, this has been disproven. According to Raising the Minimum Wage: Good for Workers, Businesses, “Leading economists have found that increases in the minimum wage have no discernible effect on employment.” Thus, proving that raising the minimum wage would not have an adverse effect on unemployment and workers getting laid off. Instead, it would help stimulate the economy more as workers would have to pay more taxes. It would add to the country's overall economic health as the goods and services would grow along with more economic prosperity. The country's overall GDP would increase, causing the country's standard of living to rise (Minimum Wage: Good for Workers, Businesses). In addition, the raising of the country’s GDP would help businesses reduce their training cost as it would help employee turnover. Raising the minimum wage would allow companies to " increase productivity and customer satisfaction” (Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased? 15 Pros and Cons). The increase in productivity and customer satisfaction would allow businesses to produce and sell more products, leading to a more stable income. 

It could be argued that raising the minimum wage would cause inflation because it would inflate the market, and prices would go up, which is true. However, the minimum wage has failed low-income workers. The minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. It has been 13 years since the federal minimum wage has been raised. Contrary to the minimum wage, “Since2009, inflation has increased by 11%” (Lenahan). As inflation has increased, minimum wage workers have still had to deal with the same 7.25 federal wage, meaning having to sacrifice time with their family and loved ones to afford to live. 

The time to act is now. The minimum wage should no longer stay stagnant while families suffer and income inequality is at an all-time high. Inflation is at its peak currently, and workers will no longer stand the abuse of their time and effort for a wage that is no longer livable. The minimum wage increase would not only help reduce poverty for workers, but it would allow the economy to grow and flourish.