Facts don’t add up in study of government worker pay
A few months ago, the city of Phoenix rolled out a $450,000 taxpayer-funded report showing that local governmental workers were paid 6 percent more in aggregate wages and benefits than private sector workers on average.
Minimum wage increase will help Arizona’s working families
While working families struggle to make ends meet in this sluggish economy, there is a bright spot on the horizon for Arizona’s lowest-paid workers: On Jan. 1, the state’s minimum wage increased 30 cents to $7.65, raising wages for more than 130,000 low-wage workers.
The increase not only helps hard-working Arizonans provide for their families, but also boosts the overall economy.
High unemployment rates remain a problem for Arizona rural areas
In a state where unemployment remains high as much of the rest of the nation recovers from the Great Recession, Yuma stands out. The metropolitan area’s jobless rate of 15.9 percent in August was the nation’s second highest, trailing only nearby El Centro, Calif., according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Food prices expected to rise in Arizona
Higher fuel prices, crop damage and a global grain shortage all mean higher food prices are ahead.