The recent Boston Fed community development issue brief “A $15 Minimum Wage in New England: Who would be affected?” by Policy Analyst Anmol Chaddha presents perspectives on the minimum wage in New England. 

Connecticut 

According to the issue brief, over 30 percent of workers in Connecticut make less than $15 per hour with over 40 percent of Black workers and nearly 55 percent of Latino workers making less than $15 per hour. Of the population earning under $15 per hour, nearly half work in retail, healthcare or restaurant industries; nearly 60 percent are at least 30 years old; and over 60 percent work full-time.  Over twenty percent of children in Connecticut have a parent who earns less than $15 per hour.  

Maine

In Maine, nearly 43 percent of workers earn less than $15 per hour and nearly 55 percent of Black workers and nearly 40 of Latino workers make under $15 per hour. Of that population, the majority work in retail, healthcare, or restaurants; are at least 30 years old; and work full-time. In Maine, approximately one in four children have a parent who makes less than $15 per hour.

Massachusetts 

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 30 percent of all workers make less than $15 per hour with over 40 percent of Black and over 50 percent of Latino workers making less than $15 per hour. Like other states in New England, the majority of the workers making less than $15 are in the retail, healthcare, or restaurant industries, are at least 30 years old, and work full-time. One in five Massachusetts children have a parent making less than $15 per hour. 

New Hampshire 

According to the brief, more than 30 percent of all workers, 50 percent of Black and nearly 45 percent of Latino workers make less than $15 per hour. Half of workers earning less than $15 per hour are employed in retail, healthcare, or restaurant industries and are at least 30 years old. The majority, or 66 percent of workers are employed full-time in their less than $15 per hour jobs. Nearly one in four New Hampshire children have a parent making less than $15 per hour. 

Rhode Island 

In the Ocean State, nearly 40 percent of all workers, and roughly 60 percent of Black and Latino workers make less than $15 per hour. According to the brief, the majority of the workers making less than $15 are in the retail, healthcare, or restaurant industries, are at least 30 years old, and work full-time. More than one in four Rhode Island children have a parent making less than $15 per hour. 

Vermont

In Vermont, nearly 40 percent of all workers, and roughly 60 percent of Black, and a quarter of Latino workers make less than $15 per hour. Over 40 percent of all the less-than-$15 per hour workers in Vermont are employed in retail, healthcare, or restaurant industries; and a majority are over 30 years old and work full-time. One in four Vermont children have a parent making less than $15 per hour.