Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature rallied at the Capitol to call for an increase in Wisconsin’s minimum wage.
Wisconsin Democrats introduced legislation this week to dramatically raise the state’s minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 per hour since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 2009.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) and Rep. Angelina Cruz (D-Racine) and backed by labor unions and advocacy groups, would immediately increase the rate to $15 per hour upon enactment. It then phases in annual $1.25 increments to reach $20 per hour by 2030, with future adjustments indexed to the Consumer Price Index for inflation. The tipped minimum wage would rise from $2.33 to $7.50 initially, eventually aligning closer to the standard rate, with a slower phase-in for small businesses employing 50 or fewer workers.
At a Capitol press conference Tuesday, supporters argued the change addresses eroded purchasing power amid rising costs for housing, food, utilities, and health care. Roys described the proposal as creating a true “living wage” for single adults, noting that Wisconsin lags behind 30 other states that have exceeded the federal floor.
Proponents estimate hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers—many in service and retail—earn below $20 hourly and struggle with basic needs.
Critics, however, warn of potential economic fallout. Multiple studies on past minimum wage hikes in the U.S. have linked substantial increases to declines in job opportunities, particularly for entry-level and less-experienced workers. Research examining large-scale “Fight for $15” policies from 2011–2019 found employment rates dropped by over 2.5 percentage points for low-experience individuals, translating to hundreds of thousands of lost positions nationally, especially among youth aged 16–21.
Other studies show minimum wage rises reduce vacancy postings in affected occupations by 2–4.5% within a year, as firms cut hiring to offset costs—effects more pronounced in low-skill sectors and high-poverty areas.
