Minimum wage affects Connecticut jobs

Posted on January 5, 2015

The increase in the minimum wage, effective January 1, is impacting Connecticut jobs.

The minimum wage is up from the current rate of $8.70 an hour to $9.15 per hour.

Following this week’s increase, there are two more scheduled under the adopted law: it will rise to $9.60 on January 1, 2016, and then to $10.10 on January 1, 2017.

Under Section 31-60 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Connecticut minimum wage rates for service employees, specifically restaurant waitpersons or bartenders, are determined by using a formula that takes tip deductions into account.

“Connecticut was the first state in the nation to commit to increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour because we want to make sure that no one who works full time lives in poverty,” Governor Malloy said. “This latest increase is just one more part of a phased-in series of gradual increases for hard-working men and women, many of whom are supporting their families and who will put this increase directly into Connecticut’s economy.”

“Our state is taking the right step in its efforts to provide a better wage for lower-income workers,” Connecticut Labor Commissioner Sharon M. Palmer said. “This phased-in increase will help families support themselves, and in turn will help grow Connecticut’s economy.”