Federal $25 minimum wage mandate would destroy nearly 5M jobs, hit booming Sun Belt hardest: study

A study projects that a $25 federal minimum wage would eliminate approximately 4.7 million jobs nationwide, with Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina experiencing the largest employment declines among U.S. states. The research indicates lower-wage sectors including retail, food service, and hospitality would face the most significant reductions. No federal $25 minimum wage has been enacted as of 2026.

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