Nicole Riley, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, released the following statement today in response to calls to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour:

“Our members understand why some people like the idea of raising the minimum wage, but doubling the minimum wage to $15 an hour would make things worse, not better, especially for those who work for small businesses.

“That money would have to come from someplace, but there’s only so much money in the till. If the government mandates a wage increase, that’s going to affect how employers run their businesses. If employers are required to pay $15 an hour, they’ll have to make up the difference someplace else—by reducing hours or getting by with fewer workers or raising prices, for example. It’s as simple as that.

“The minimum wage is for workers with few skills and little to no experience. If the cost of labor goes up, employers will be more likely to hire older, more experienced workers. They’ll be less willing to take a chance on a young person just entering the workforce or someone without skills or experience.

“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 96% of hourly workers already earn more than the minimum wage, and most minimum-wage workers get a raise within a year. 

“Rather than mandating a wage increase, we need to encourage lawmakers to reduce rules and regulations that make it harder for businesses, especially small businesses, to grow and create jobs. Small businesses are America’s job creators. When you help small businesses succeed, you help everyone.”

NFIB has posted an infographic about five common myths concerning the minimum wage on its website: https://www.nfib.com/content/resources/virginia/infographic-minimum-wage-myths-busted-73957/. 

NFIB is Virginia’s leading small-business association, representing a cross-section of the state’s economy. To learn more, visit www.NFIB.com/VA or follow @NFIB_VA on Twitter.