New Minimum Wage Caused California a Loss of 4,256 Fast-Food Jobs
With fast food jobs bouncing widely from their low point in the winter to their high point in the summer, both EPI and Newsom appear to be selectively choosing their data to bolster their cases, but the latest quarterly report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows an unambiguous decline of 4,256 fast food jobs through June since the law went into effect at the start of April.
Food jobs grew from March to June of 2024 by only 406 jobs, while the year before they grew by 9,118 jobs in the typical hiring ramp-up into the busier summer months, says BLS data analyzed by the Employment Policies Institute.
According to Revenue Management Solutions, a company that analyzes restaurant transactions to optimize menu pricing, California menu prices in June were up 7.5% year-over-year, but foot traffic is down — nationwide menu prices were up 3.1% with foot traffic down 3.6% compared to the year prior.
“This decline is a clear indication that customers are opting to skip a fast-food visit altogether rather than pay higher menu prices,” said RMS.
Food jobs grew from March to June of 2024 by only 406 jobs, while the year before they grew by 9,118 jobs in the typical hiring ramp-up into the busier summer months, says BLS data analyzed by the Employment Policies Institute.
According to Revenue Management Solutions, a company that analyzes restaurant transactions to optimize menu pricing, California menu prices in June were up 7.5% year-over-year, but foot traffic is down — nationwide menu prices were up 3.1% with foot traffic down 3.6% compared to the year prior.
“This decline is a clear indication that customers are opting to skip a fast-food visit altogether rather than pay higher menu prices,” said RMS.
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