In 2026, 19 states are implementing minimum wage increases, with hikes ranging from 28 cents to $2, benefiting over 8.3 million workers. While these increases bring the average state minimum wage to $14.57, the federal minimum wage remains stagnant at $7.25, with tipped workers still earning a subminimum of $2.13. Advocates, including Senator Bernie Sanders, criticize the federal rate, emphasizing that it does not provide a living wage and is a national disgrace. Despite the efforts of multiple states and municipalities to raise wages, the gap between earnings and the cost of living remains significant, and calls for a living wage persist.
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Santa Fe, known for its unique culture, is implementing a pioneering ordinance to combat a housing affordability crisis by directly linking wages to both consumer prices and fair market rent. This groundbreaking approach, which will raise the minimum wage to $17.50 by 2027, aims to help approximately 9,000 workers, or about 20% of the city’s workforce, afford to live in Santa Fe. City officials are also pursuing additional strategies like increased housing permits and a mansion tax to ensure the city’s diverse population can continue to thrive. Ultimately, this effort represents a critical step in preserving Santa Fe’s identity as “The City Different”.
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More concerning than lavish parties amidst economic hardship is the reliance of 42 million Americans on SNAP benefits. This reliance stems from the federal minimum wage, stagnant at $7.25 for 16 years, failing to keep pace with rising costs and the economic realities faced by full-time workers. While proposals like the “Raise the Wage Act of 2025” aim to increase the minimum wage, its failure to increase in 16 years sends a powerful message that the government does not prioritize workers, thereby increasing the dependence on federal assistance programs.
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The German government has greenlit a historic minimum wage increase, the largest in the nation’s history. This rise will unfold in two phases, commencing on January 1, 2026, when the minimum wage will climb from €12.82 to €13.90 per hour. Further increasing on January 1, 2027, the wage will reach €14.60 per hour, impacting the approximately six million workers currently earning minimum wage.
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John Q. Hosedrinker