By Damian Phillips, WV News
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Minimum wage policy is one of the most fundamental questions of economics, but there is no easy answer.
Although West Virginia’s instituted minimum wage is $8.75 an hour, due to inflation many low-skill jobs in West Virginia are starting employees at $12 an hour or more.
“The minimum wage in West Virginia isn’t really effective anymore,” said West Virginia University economics expert John Deskins.
Because inflation in recent years has been so high, the market wage being paid for unskilled labor has increased drastically without an increase to the mandated minimum.
West Virginia’s minimum wage has not been adjusted since 2008. But since then, inflation in the economy has risen 46%.
If West Virginia’s minimum wage had been adjusted for inflation, it would be approximately $12.77 in 2024. But, Deskins believes raising the statutory minimum wage is unlikely to have much of a positive effect for the majority of unskilled workers.
