Hourly Workers See Modest Pay Gains.

• Author: Brainerd, Jackson

Minimum wages are up in 2020 for hourly workers in 21 states. Seven states (Alaska, Florida, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, South Dakota and Vermont) automatically increased their rates based on the cost of living, while 14 states (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Washington) increased their rates due to previously approved legislation or ballot initiatives.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25.

There's no agreement on whether higher minimum wages create jobs and grow the economy or hurt workers by forcing businesses to...