Washington, D.C. has just passed a $15 minimum wage. Or, as IWF’s Charlotte Hays puts it, “a measure to increase local unemployment and ultimately usher in more automation.” 

That, unfortunately, is the real expected outcome of such a dramatic minimum wage hike. There will be fewer jobs, particularly for those starting out with the fewest skills.  Cutting out those bottom rungs of the economic ladder will mean higher youth unemployment and create real hardship—and not just in the short-term.  Teens who aren’t able to get summer jobs will miss out on valuable learning opportunities and will have a tough time to find a job down the road because they’ll lack experience.  

Test what you know about the impact of the minimum wage by taking this quiz