Chicago’s minimum wage will increase to $12 per hour starting July 1, 2018 – a 45 percent increase in the minimum wage since 2011. The increase is part of Mayor Emanuel’s 2014 ordinance that will raise the minimum wage for 410,000 workers annually to $13 per hour in 2019. “Next week, Chicago will get a raise,” said Mayor Emanuel. “No parents who work full time in the City of Chicago should ever have to raise their children in poverty. Higher wages are good for families, communities and our economy.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chicago has achieved its lowest unemployment rate on record. Due to increases to the city’s minimum wage, by 2019, $860 million will be injected into the local economy. Last year, of the ten biggest cities in America, Chicago had the largest percentage drop in unemployment. “I applaud the Mayor and City Council for recognizing the importance of higher wages and the role that it plays for families, especially those from single parent households,” said Emilia DiMenco, president and CEO of Women’s Business Development Center. “The increase in minimum wage proves that working families and businesses both can thrive in today’s economy.” BACP continues to host outreach events and provide information to employers and workers about their obligations and rights in the workplace. A workshop on minimum wage and paid sick leave is scheduled for Friday, July 13 at 9:30 in room 805, City Hall.