Study: Raising Oklahoma minimum wage to $15 would address housing security
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A new study estimating the impact of raising Oklahoma's minimum wage on housing security says thousands of Oklahomans would benefit from the change.
The report was authored by Ohio-based Scioto Analysis, an economics and public policy group. Scioto Analysis principal Rob Moore says the study was a collaboration with the Oklahoma Donor Alliance, a civic engagement organization in the state.
'They really wanted to educate the public and have people go to get information about this ballot initiative that was going to be voted on next year,' said Moore.
The ballot initiative in question, State Question 832, is set for a June 2026 ballot. The measure would see Oklahoma's minimum wage raise gradually from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour by 2029. Governor Kevin Stitt set the date for the vote, saying it would save taxpayers close to $2 million as opposed to having it sooner.
Oklahoma lawmaker wants $16 minimum wage by end of 2025
The Scioto Analysis study, according to Moore, consisted of running over 1,000 labor market scenarios if Oklahoma's minimum wage was raised to $15. The study used data from the American Community Survey and Congressional Budget Office information to run the scenarios.
'We're doing policy analysis, so trying to predict the future, and there's obviously always going to be a bit of error with that,' said Moore.
Key findings from the study are below:
40,000 fewer households would be cost-burdened/spending over 30% of their income on rent.
32,000 fewer households would be severely cost-burdened/spending more than 50% of their income on rent.
Up to 550 fewer Oklahomans would experience homelessness each year, including a reduction of 150 Oklahomans experiencing chronic homelessness.
630 fewer annual emergency room visits.
Up to 330 fewer shelter beds needed statewide.
'Any time that you're trying to connect the dots with folks, I think that's a good thing,' said Amber England, spokesperson for Raise the Wage Oklahoma, which is advocating for the minimum wage increase. 'This report shows a direct connection between affordable housing, lowering homelessness, and raising wages, and so I think that this is a really good thing.'
The Oklahoma State Chamber and Oklahoma Farm Bureau have been vocal critics of raising the wage. Opponents say it would crush working families through price increases on the heels of record inflation and put corner stores and family farms out of business.
'It just, it adds uncertainty to business owners, and that's unnecessary,' said State Chamber President and CEO Chad Warmington in an interview last fall.
News 4 has tried, the week of May 5, to get comments from both the State Chamber and Oklahoma Farm Bureau on the study. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau declined an interview on Tuesday. News 4 checked in with a spokesperson for the State Chamber Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for comment but was told an expert was out of the office.
You can read the study in its entirety below:
Mimum wages and housing security in Oklahoma.Download
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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