Have you ever noticed when the topic of the minimum wage being raised is discussed that the anti-worker, corporate crowd starts screaming about jobs leaving to neigboring states with lower minimum wages? It seems reality is painting a different picture. Missouri and Kansas have a big gap in their minimum wage. Which is higher and which state has the better economy and working conditions? Watch Minimum-wage gap between Kansas, Missouri widening in 2024 by Chanell 12, KWCH News in Wichita, KS to find out.
The Missouri minimum wage has already left Kansas in the dust, but soon the difference between state lines will be even greater.
The minimum wage in Missouri increases again on Jan. 1, from $12 to $12.30. The minimum wage is Kansas stays the same, $7.25. Kansas senator Ethan Corson of Prairie Village plans to introduce a bill to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour in 2025, then an increase of $2 per hour every year until it makes out at $16.
I would just point for folks just across the state line, Missouri’s economy is doing really well — the Kansas City, Missouri economy is doing really well,” Corson said. “So obviously, this has not had a negative effect on businesses, I actually think it’s an economic stimulus for our local economy, because by putting more money in the hands of working people, they’re going to turn around and spend that money on goods and services for their families.”
The reason the Missouri minimum wage is higher is because thousand of Missourian knocked doors, collected signatures, and voted in 2006 for a referendum that raised the wage. Much of this work was done by union members even thought very few union workers benefited. Just another example of unions helping to raise the bar for all workers.
