Ohio’s minimum wage increased to $10.70 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.35 per hour for tipped employees on Jan. 1, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce. This was an automatic adjustment due to a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2006.

In Broome County, the unemployment rate sits at 3.6% as of January 3, 2025, lower than the long-term average of 5.67%. However, Executive Director at Broome-Tioga Workforce Robert Murphy says there's a bigger issue that the wage increase could possibly help out.

Twenty-one states are raising minimum wage this year, which is set to affect over nine million employees across the country. According to the Economic

Many states automatically raise their minimum wage on Jan. 1 like Arizona, Virginia, Connecticut and Minnesota. In others, like Florida and Missouri, specific ballot measures have legislated the increases over the years.

As the calendar turns to 2025, New York joins a growing list of states raising their minimum wage, aiming to reach $15 or more. This move marks a significant step in addressing economic disparities and adjusting to the rising cost of living.