Survey USA poll shows people in the Central Valley have positive reaction to minimum wage increase

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- A job fair drew hundreds of people to the Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis Tuesday. This as Californians are reacting to a proposal to raise California's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022.

"As the economy gets better, more people are hiring. So it's kinda a win-win as we try to get these people back to work," said Chris Miller, Cumulus Media.

Jacqueline Rodriguez is looking for a job to pay for school when she starts in August but worries about finding one.

"It will probably get more competitive because more people are going to want to work, because, I mean, it's going to be $15."

"Entry level was never meant to be full time, never meant to be a living wage. It was supposed to help kids through school, second income, part-time job," said Kris Stuebner, JEM Restaurant Management Corporation.

But an exclusive Action News poll conducted by Survey USA shows 54-percent of Californians feel the state's $10 per hour minimum wage should increase. That's also true in the Valley where 51-percent of people surveyed agreed. And 46-percent of those polled feel it should be upped to $15 and 11-percent said beyond that.

Steubner said, per state law, his clients have to pay management salary, at least, double minimum wage. Adding there are other costs to factor in.

"It's not just minimum wage going up, your workers comp is tied to it, your insurance is tied to it, your unemployment payroll taxes are tied to it."

Our Survey USA poll found people across the state were mixed on whether raising minimum wage would help or hurt the local economy. But in the Central Valley, only 26-percent said raising it would help. Comparing to 36-percent who think it will hurt it.

"When it goes up we have to weigh. How much will people pay for a hamburger," said Stuebner.