On January 1st, Washington Minimum Wage Increased to $16.66 . Several cities are even higher, including Seattle at $20.76, SeaTac at $20.17, Tukwila at $21.10, and Renton at $20.90. The Washington legislature passed a stepped increase to the minimum wage that took effect January 1st, 2016. Each year, L&I is required to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage based on the CPI-W. This represents a 75% increase over the past 10 years.
Although the minimum wage rate does not directly impact us, it does indirectly. Nationally, only 1.4% of workers are at minimum wage . We have always paid above minimum wage for our entry-level labor positions. Our work is harder and requires more effort and training than most traditional minimum wage jobs. Our current entry-level wage is $22.00, and the average wage is $24.78. This has also increased by 81% over the past 10 years and by 19% over the past 3 years, driven by historic unemployment levels and a strong economy. Seattle area unemployment was at 4.5% .
We work hard to maintain a great work environment, and that has helped us attract and retain a great staff. We also use the H2B Visa program for our seasonal labor. We hear about other contractors who cannot perform their work due to their struggle with labor. We feel somewhat lucky, but know it is more than luck, it is our focus. All in all, we have a very motivated and stable staff, and for that we are proud.
Over 10 Years
at Our Company
Over 10 Years
