Help me with an argument... deciphering BOLS stats

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Right winger is saying the min wage applies to only a minuscule portion of the population.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

In 2011, 73.9 million American workers age 16 and over were paid at hourly rates, representing 59.1 percent of all wage and salary workers.1 Among those paid by the hour, 1.7 million earned exactly the prevailing Federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 2.2 million had wages below the minimum.2 Together, these 3.8 million workers with wages at or below the Federal minimum made up 5.2 percent of all hourly-paid workers.

Based on this, only 5.2% of the hourly workers make minimum wage or less now. Which means 94.8% make more.

Maybe I haven't had enough coffee...tell me they aren't right. Maybe you just need to know the statistic of how many people make between $7.25 and $10 something (suggested change) to know the total pool of people you are talking about.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Just tell him that's 380 times more than the number of people who lost their

insurance coverage due to 'Obamacare'.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/31/3109041/10000-lost-coverage-obamacare/

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. good one SF. great article I missed - thanks !

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. many states have minimum wages higher than the federal minimum.

Many more than 5.2% make their minimum wage.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Yes, I've been researching. the weakness in their argument is that they are comparing those

effected to total population. Hourly workers make up 59.8% of the entire workforce at $79 million in 2011. I was amazed that only 5.2% of these make $7.25 (current) or less. But, to understand the true impact you have to determine who makes between 7.25 and 10.10. CNN did it. they are saying the change will affect 28 million - with is 36% of all hourly workers - or 21% of all workers.

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. Yes ...

Maybe I haven't had enough coffee...tell me they aren't right. Maybe you just need to know the statistic of how many people make between $7.25 and $10 something (suggested change) to know the total pool of people you are talking about.

That is an important data point, as this represents a significantly larger pool.

Further, what folks are leaving out of the discussion is ... a significant percentage of that "only 5.2%" of the work-force, make up a significant portion of the population that require governmental assistance, i.e., SNAP, U/C, and other transfer payments.

So increasing the MW, not only stimulates the economy by putting more money in the hands of those most likely to spend it, it reduces the amount paid out by the government, in the form of assistance. (This point will leave your right-wing debate partner stuttering ... until he/she re-groups and dashes to the next talking point)

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. well, actually they were comparing the group who would be affected to total population making

it sound even more minuscule - 1.1%

But, you make an excellent point about helping to move people off assistance !

BTW - CNN had the number - the change will affect 28 million people.

Hopefully stimulating the economy would offset price increases.

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. I haven't run the numbers; but ...

I think the 28 million number is low ... since in order to retain workers, employers will have to raise the wages of those making "near" the $10.00 wage.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. You are right....Not sure how the got the 28mm. you would have to identify

every single person who makes less than $10.10/hr to come up with it.

[DotGone]

6. That's because companies skirt around this by paying $0.05 (pick a small number) above minimum wage

and as others have mentioned, some states have higher than federal min wages. You're method is a much better indicator of how many are struggling to get by. I haven't looked at the BOLS data but do they indicate the percentages by income brackets?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. Do you mean..how many people make 7.25, 8, 9, 10, etc? I haven't found

anything like that yet. Obviously they must if they projected 28 mm.

[GeorgeGist]

9. Only 5.2%?

Obviously they have no right to a decent life. Right?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Yep...same way they dismiss the percentage of people without healthcare - screw em. nt