Politics, economics, and the arc of history are all moving against pro-poverty-wage groups like the NFIB — so it’s hard to get too upset when they make up some numbers. What else do they have left?
And the track record of the NFIB & groups like them sure says a lot: for more than 100 years, they’ve predicted disaster at every turn. And yet the sky remains aloft. For example:
In 1995, the NFIB predicted the national min wage increase would “put a big dent in small-business hiring”. In reality, 2 million new jobs were created by small businesses from 1995 - 2000.
In 1998, business-side "research" confidently predicted a loss of 7,431 jobs if the state min wage initiative passed. In reality, Washington state economic growth has led the nation since then.
In 2008, the WRA said a statewide $8.55 minimum wage would be “crippling” to restaurants. Restaurant employment increased significantly since then in our state.
In 2011, a WPC “study” predicted sick days in Seattle would cost “between $30 million and $90 million a year”. In reality, Seattle is the fastest growing large city in the country.
In 2012, a WRA survey said 66% of restaurants would reduce hiring because of the $9.19 minimum wage. In reality, 8,000 new restaurant jobs were created that year.
And two special favorites:
In 1945, a Mrs. Morris Kennedy told the Spokane Daily Chronicle that "if 75 cents were fixed it would deprive many minors of the opportunity to work part time." Sound familiar?
And above is a fascinating story from back in 1915 where an employer first realized their predictions were wrong, just a year after Washington State passed its first-ever minimum wage.