Affected workers who work year-round would receive a raise on the order of $3,000 a year, as a result of the Raise the Wage bill, the economist added.

“This is enough to make a tremendous difference in the life of a preschool teacher, bank teller, or fast-food worker -- more than half of those working in each of these occupations earns less than $15 per hour today,” according to Zipperer, who said that low-wage workers today constitute a large portion of the workforce.

About 25 percent of all workers earned $13 or less per hour in 2018 and the vast majority of them would benefit from a minimum wage increase to $15 by 2024 he said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it is analyzing specifics of the bill and “open to a discussion on the federal minimum wage. That discussion should be based on actual economics rather than a predetermined, politically based number,” said U.S. Chamber Senior Vice President of Employment Policy Glenn Spencer.

“A $15 minimum wage would result in reduced hours for employees, fewer opportunities for first-time workers, and harm many employers, particularly small business, charities and nonprofits,” Spencer added. “A reasonable minimum wage bill would also include reforms and other provisions to help employers deal with increased labor costs,” he added.  The group may seek to offset the effects of a higher minimum wage by attempting to negotiate greater flexibility for employers in other areas such as benefits and overtime pay, but is still analyzing the bill. 

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce said a survey of its membership reveals that employers have cut workers’ hours, overtime, bonuses, and benefits – and sometimes eliminated them, to cope with the city’s mandated minimum wage increases. Pasadena’s current minimum has been increasing annually since 2010 when the city council mandated annual hikes. It was increased to $13.25 in July, 2018 and will rise to $14.25 on July 1, 2019 and $15.00 by July 1, 2020.

The survey of businesses was conducted in January 2019, according to a statement from the Chamber, which is now asking the Pasadena City Council to defer planned wage increases to align with the State of California’s slower hike schedule.

The biggest number of Pasadena poll respondents, about 18 percent of them, are full-service restaurants. About 9 percent are traditional small retailers; 8 percent are office-based businesses, such as insurance, finance, etc.; 7 percent are non-profits, and 7 percent are consultancies.

Some 54 percent of companies said they raised the prices of their products, while reducing employee hours and workforce size.

Forty-one percent said they did not hire new employees, while 40 percent said they decreased their workforce, and 38 percent did not hire temporary or seasonal workers.