The federal government has imposed a minimum
wage since 1938, and nearly all the states
impose their own minimum wages. These laws
prevent employers from paying wages below a
mandated level. While the aim is to help workers,
decades of economic research show that
minimum wages usually end up harming workers
and the broader economy. Minimum wages
particularly stifle job opportunities for low-skill
workers, youth, and minorities, which are the
groups that policymakers are often trying to
help with these policies.