Updated: 7:38 AM EST Jan 29, 2021
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is calling for a minimum wage increase as part of his 2021 agenda.Wolf on Thursday outlined his top priorities for the coming year, including a proposal to increase the state minimum wage to $12 per hour on July 1. That would be followed by annual increases of $0.50 until the rate reaches $15 per hour on July 1, 2027.Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which is the federal minimum.The state minimum wage hasn't increased in more than 10 years, Wolf said, and is keeping families living in poverty.In a news release, Wolf's office said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has made raising the state’s embarrassingly low minimum wage more crucial than ever as thousands of essential workers are struggling to buy food and avoid homelessness."A living wage lets people work their way out of poverty, improves productivity and morale for millions of workers, and reduces reliance on public benefits. Raising the wage floor also provides critical workforce needs, including early childhood educators and direct care workers caring for the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians."