Since 2009, Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has been $7.25, but legislation has recently been proposed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate to raise the minimum wage to $15, writes Claire Kovach for Keystone Research Center.

In June 2023, the PA House of Representatives passed House Bill 1500, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026. Yet by the end of the year, neither this bill nor any other legislation was passed to increase it. In keeping the minimum wage stagnant, income inequality continues to effect residents of across all genders, races, industries, and so forth.

The Keystone Research Center detailed that millions of Pennsylvanians, and Chester Countians in addition, would benefit from raising the wage bar.

This raise would reduce poverty, decrease gender and race pay disparities, and thus give back to the state economy with more money.

About 776,000 Pennsylvanians who currently make less than $15 would be directly affected and over 568,000 would be directly affected due to pay scales being adjusted upward. For Chester County residents, this is 50,000 workers or 17 percent of the workforce. 27 percent of workers are over the age of 40, while 19 percent are 19 years or younger.

A majority of the residents who would be affected are women at 53 percent. 43 percent are people of color and 47 percent work full time. 38 percent have some college education and 26 percent are parents.

Overall, Pennsylvania and Chester County workers across all demographics would benefit themselves and the economy if the minimum wage is increased to $15. See the graphic below for more breakdown of demographics.

Read more about who benefits from a minimum wage increase at the Keystone Research Center.