Workers hit with massive job losses after LA’s new $22.50 wage law backfires episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 9, 2026 · 16 MIN

Workers hit with massive job losses after LA’s new $22.50 wage law backfires

from News For Reasonable People · host Sean Reynolds

Los Angeles is facing unintended consequences after implementing a $22.50 minimum wage for hotel and airport workers. A recent survey reveals a 6% job loss following the wage increase, with over half of hotel owners planning to reduce hours further. This ordinance, intended to help workers, has led to approximately 650 job eliminations. Jackie Filla, CEO of the Los Angeles Hotel Association, suggests the city pause and re-evaluate the policy. While labor unions argue that living wages stabilize the workforce, the data indicates a different reality. This situation raises concerns about the impact of minimum wage laws on businesses and employment rates in Los Angeles. Could this be a cautionary tale for other cities considering similar measures? The economic fallout warrants a closer examination of the long-term effects of LA's wage policy.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 9, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Workers hit with massive job losses after LA’s new $22.50 wage law backfires

0:00 16:49

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of News For Reasonable People?

This episode is 16 minutes long.

When was this News For Reasonable People episode published?

This episode was published on March 9, 2026.

Can I download this News For Reasonable People episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!