Although similar proposals have not been successful each time they’ve been attempted over the past five years, North Carolina Democrats in the House and Senate are pushing for an increase in the state’s minimum wage again this session.
The group Raising Wages NC, comprised of labor groups and minimum wage hike proponents, is calling on lawmakers to raise North Carolina’s base wage to $12 per hour by 2020 and $15 per hour by 2022.
NFIB/NC is opposed to mandated wage hikes because they end up causing harm where they intended to help. For small business owners in particular, they are constrained by thin profit margins, but pay workers the highest wages possible—oftentimes above minimum wage. However, mandating higher wages for businesses that cannot afford it will mean businesses are forced to choose between raising prices, cutting jobs, or closing their business altogether.
Although raising the minimum wage is a key part of Democrats’ agenda nationwide, Gov. Roy Cooper also understands the importance of fostering a business-friendly environment. Gov. Cooper recently gave the keynote address at the NFIB North Carolina Small Business Day and expressed excitement about working with NFIB/NC and the small business community to get people in the workforce.
“What we want is a more prosperous North Carolina for everyone,” he said. “One thing I know is that we have to have strong business to create good-paying jobs, and most of those jobs come from small business. I want to tell everyone that NC is open for business!”
