California Raises Minimum Wage to $17.40 | San Diego News

California’s minimum wage is jumping to $17.40 an hour starting January 1, part of a yearly inflation-adjusted hike capped at 3.5% — a system designed to keep up with the cost of living since 2016. Governor Newsom celebrates it as a win for working families, contrasting it with the federal minimum wage’s decade-long freeze at $7.25. While some see this as worker empowerment, critics warn it could hurt small businesses and lead to job cuts, fueling an ongoing national debate over wages and economic fairness. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/179173352d6c4878