When you look at the average cost of living and what minimum wage still is after this increase it is hard to imagine being able to afford even basic necessities . They say that minimum wage in Minnesota rises with inflation, but that comparison still leaves a massive gap between what is on paper and what is reality.

The minimum wage for large employers... companies with revenues of $500,000 or more  is currently $9.65-an-hour in Minnesota, but on Jan. 1, this will rise to $9.86. For smaller employers ..... those with less than $500,000 revenue  they will have to start paying their minimum wage employees $8.04-an-hour.

According to Rent Jungle:

"As of November 2018, One bedroom apartments in Duluth rent for $918 a month on average (a 0.98% increase from last year) and two bedroom apartment rents average $877 (a 31.24% decrease from last year). "

Even with the increase to $9.86 per hour in a 40 hour week that =$394.40 before taxes, you would not even have enough from an 80 hour paycheck to pay rent, and that is 50% of your income. For people who are not allowed overtime is it any wonder that people work 2 or 3 jobs.

But, in Minneapolis they have there own standard for minimum wage- $10.25 for companies with fewer than 100 workers and $11.25 for those with more. That still would be tough to find housing making that much. For more information on this new ruling Click Here

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