Amazon poll finds big support for more than doubling minimum wage to $15 an hour

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – The US public supports a more than doubling of the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, according to a new nationwide poll from internet giant Amazon.

Amazon, which is quickly expanding its footprint in the Triangle with more distribution centers and is planning to add hundreds more jobs, already has embraced an average wage of $15 an hour.

“We believe that $15 an hour is the minimum that anyone in the U.S. should earn for an hour of labor; that’s why we were among the first major employers to offer a $15 an hour starting wage and why we’ve been advocating for an increase to the federal minimum wage ever since,” said Jay Carney, Senior Vice President, Amazon Global Corporate Affairs, in a statement.

“We were thrilled when several other major companies—including Target, Best Buy, and Costco—also increased wages to at least $15 an hour for their employees. We are hopeful that more follow suit. That’s what U.S. workers deserve and, as this new study makes clear, what people across the country want.”

Despite its average minimum wage, Amazon faces a union organizing effort in Alabama and some workers have protested the demands of the firm on employees at warehouse operations.

The Biden Administration has expressed support for an increase from the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

North Carolina’s minimum wage also is $7.25, according to the North Carolina Department of Labor.

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According to the Amazon poll, conducted by research firm Ipsos, some 56% of those polled support the $15 an hour target.

Some 80% believe $7.25 is too low.

“This consensus was seen across all genders, generations, education levels, races, income levels, and regions of the country,” the companies noted.

Chris Jackson, senior vice president of Public Affairs at Ipsos, said such a consensus about an issue is rare.

“Rarely, if ever, do the opinions or preferences of regular Americans enter into these debates, but our study clearly indicates that the American people want to see the federal minimum wage increased,” Jackson said in a statement. “This level of agreement is practically unheard of in contemporary America and reflects an overwhelming public consensus that elected officials should think twice before disputing.”

Could be consequences

However, there could be economic fallout from an increase to $15 an hour, warns NC State economist Dr. Michael Walden.

NCSU economist: Debating good & bad, benefits & fallout of raising minimum wage to $15

“Opponents of an increase point to potential adverse consequences, fallout from mandating a higher minimum wage that could come back to hurt the very individuals the higher wage is designed to help,” he wrote in a recent analysis.

“There are several worries about a higher minimum wage. Will employers reduce the number of minimum wage workers employed? Or if the workers are kept, will employers cut their hours? Maybe over time, employers will only hire higher-skilled workers who – the employers judge – justify the higher pay.”

Some companies already are paying more than $15 an hour:

Charter Communications, which employs thousands across North Carolina and is seeking to fill hundreds of jobs, has increased its minimum hour pay to $18. It ahs set a $20-an-hour target for 2022.
Bank of America last fall increased its minimum wage to $20 an hour.

The Amazon-Ipsos poll was conducted from Jan. 28 to Feb. 8 and included 6,354 people.