Minimum Wage Higher Today

Minimum wage earners are making 40 cents more an hour today. The increase is the second phase of a higher wage approved ongress last summer.

As of today, the minimum wage stands at $5.15 cents an hour. With but a 2 percent unemployment rate, the pay raise will have little impact in Raleigh.

Social worker Jenks Bulloch says any raise is good, but still falls short because people in the Triangle can't support themselves on $5.15 an hour.

The pay is better than minimum wage at fast food restaurants, which seem to be in a perpetual state of looking for new hires. They are willing to pay above minimum wage, because they can't find anyone who will work for the minimum.

As one manager said, people can't "pay their rent and everything else" if they earn minimum wage.