Minimum wage going up, again

OLYMPIA — Despite the economic downtown due to coronavirus quarantine orders, the state's minimum wage is set to increase again Jan. 1.

The state Department of Labor and Industries announced last week that the minimum wage will jump 19 cents, from $13.50 per our to $13.69.

In addition to the standard minimum wage, the state will allow a training wage to be paid to young workers.

The minimum training wage for workers ages 14-15 will be $11.64 per hour beginning Jan. 1.

That's an increase of 16 cents per hour from the current $11.48.

State law requires the training wage to be 85% of the regular minimum wage, which is based on the consumer price index.

The wage hike comes as the state faces about a $4.5 billion budget shortfall over the next three years due to quarantine orders that have shuttered businesses statewide since Gov. Jay Inslee declared an emergency Feb. 29.