Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/268380 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper Series No. 54
Publisher: 
University of Waterloo, Canadian Labour Economics Forum (CLEF), Waterloo
Abstract: 
Most minimum wage studies are identified on small, plentiful, and expected wage changes, spread out over time. A recent set of changes have instead been large, unexpected, and quick, following the "Fight for $ 15" movement. Alberta is the first state or province to have this $ 15 minimum wage, with an unexpectedly large increase (47%) occurring over a short horizon (3 years). The employment effects of this policy are estimated using a synthetic control approach on Labour Force Survey data. Similar to the existing literature, workers moved up the wage distribution, increment by increment, reaching past the 15th percentile, but not all remained employed. Employment losses were found mostly among younger workers, at magnitudes similar to previous elasticities. Newer to the literature, regional employment losses were found mostly outside of Alberta's two main cities, but youth employment losses were similar between urban and non-urban areas, with an urban older worker offset.
Subjects: 
employment
Fight for $ 15
geography
minimum wage
synthetic control
JEL: 
J21
J38
J48
J82
R23
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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