research director at the Employment Policies Institute

New Economic Study Finds California’s $20 Fast Food Minimum Wage Caused 18,000 Job Losses

July 14, 2025 7:24 amJuly 14, 2025 7:27 am

“New data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics was released Thursday, revealing a staggering 36,565 fast food jobs have been lost since September 2023 when the $20 per hour minimum wage law, AB 1228, was signed into law,” the...

California’s $20 Wage Law Cost Restaurant Workers 7 Weeks Worth of Work

May 20, 2025 2:57 pmMay 22, 2025 6:37 am

The Employment Policies Institute just released new data showing AB 1228, California’s $20 wage law for fast food workers, cost non-tipped restaurant workers 250 hours of work annually, equating to up to 7 weeks of lost work – up to...

Another One Bites the Dust: Jack in the Box Closing 150 – 200 Restaurants

April 25, 2025 3:10 amApril 25, 2025 3:11 am

San Diego based Jack in the Box just announced it will be closing 150-200 restaurants “to improve long-term financial performance across its restaurant system, strengthen its balance sheet and demonstrate its commitment to running an asset-light business model — all...

With 16,000 Lost Fast Food Jobs, New Ad Blasts California’s ‘Crappiest Law’

March 31, 2025 4:27 pmMarch 31, 2025 4:33 pm

“The minimum wage law very cleverly is misnamed,” Economist Thomas Sowell said. “The real minimum wage is zero. That is what many inexperienced and low skilled people receive as a result of legislation that makes it illegal to pay them...

Shocking 16,000 Jobs Lost Due to California’s $20 Fast Food Wage Hike

March 8, 2025 9:19 amMarch 10, 2025 7:43 am

By the time California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law the $20 minimum wage for fast food workers, he had been warned by many that it would be devastating for the industry, but he did it anyway. Now, 16,000 fast...