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The share of Idaho workers earning minimum wage has grown from 5 percent in 2011 to 7.7 percent in 2012. The growth has put Idaho in the top spot for the largest share of minimum wage workers in the country. How did that happen? And what’s being done to reverse the trend?

Idaho Legislative Panel Approves 3 Percent Merit Pay Increase

Idaho Capitol Dome
Emilie Ritter Saunders
/
Boise State Public Radio

For a second year, a joint legislative committee has unanimously supported increasing wages for Idaho's 17,000 state workers in fiscal year 2016.

The bipartisan Change in Employee Compensation Committee proposed awarding a 3 percent pay boost on a merit basis. This means, however, not everyone is guaranteed a raise.

The recommendation —estimated to cost nearly $30 million— now needs full legislative approval but is already expected to be supported by the governor.

State employees experienced pay cuts for five years straight since the recession in 2008, including through furloughs, even though state law dictates that public salaries must remain competitive with market rates. Employees got a 2 percent raise last year but only half of it was permanent.

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