House Democrats, left-wing political activists, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) are pushing for historic hikes in the federal minimum wage, but a new survey of economists who specialize in labor economics found overwhelming opposition to the proposals.

The survey was conducted by the Employment Policy Institute (EPI) in March and April, with responses from 166 professional economists, most of whom are academics specializing in labor economics. The respondents were unusually balanced in terms of their political affiliations, with 21% each identifying themselves as Democrats and Republicans, 23% as Libertarians, and the rest as having no affiliation.

While the survey’s sample represents only 0.5% of the more than 35,000 professional economists working in sectors of the U.S. economy, their unanimity of opinion across such a representatively balanced sample is likely to command significant attention among opponents and supporters of the proposal advanced by a coalition of House Democrats and left-wing political activists to boost the federal minimum wage from the current $7.25 per hour to $25 per hour, and the $30 per hour sought by Mamdani.

The results indicate overwhelming opposition to such hikes, according to the survey made public by the Arlington, Virginia-based EPI:

• Ninety-six percent of economists across the political spectrum oppose minimum wages of $20 per hour or more;
• A vast majority also believe steep wage hikes will lead to lost jobs (96%), automation (97%), and an increase in the cost of living (84%);
• Three-fourths oppose minimum wages up to $15/hour.

The professional economists’ opposition reflects other findings of the survey, including 39% of the respondents who contend that minimum wage hikes to $15 per hour will increase poverty, while a hike to $20 per hour would increase poverty in the view of 59% of the respondents. The $15 per hour rate would kill jobs for young, entry-level individuals in the view of 74% of the economists surveyed, with the percentage increasing to 89% with a hike to $20 per hour. The $15 per hour will prompt the loss of more jobs due to automation, according to 71% of the respondents, with 90% agreeing with that conclusion if the minimum wage is hiked to $20 per hour.

Other negative impacts big majorities of the respondents agreed would result from large minimum wage increases include 69% contending the $15 hike would be damaging to small businesses and 91% saying the same for the $20 hike. Similarly, 59% claim the $15 hike will increase the cost of living for all Americans either “significantly” or “somewhat,” and 80% foreseeing significant or somewhat increases at the $20 rate.

The EPI survey results were not available in April when Virginia Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a law incrementally hiking her state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.

In Congress, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) and Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.) introduced their “Living Wage for All Act of 2026” that would boost the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour. The proposal was introduced with 13 additional co-sponsors, all Democrats. The big increases mandated by the proposal would be delayed to 2031 for large corporations and 2038 for small businesses. The proposal also makes it illegal for state or local governments to have sub-minimum wage laws that enable employers to hire certain workers on an exceptional basis.

“The legislation reflects a national push to match wages with the rapidly growing cost of living. Across the country, campaigns are already moving at $25 and above — with $30 proposals advancing in Alameda County and Los Angeles, $27 legislation in Illinois, $30 efforts in New York, and $25 campaigns underway in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. These are part of a coordinated, multi-front strategy backed by a coalition of more than 100 labor, community, and social justice organizations. The Living Wage for All Act brings that momentum to the federal level — translating what workers and voters are already demanding across states and cities into a national standard,” Ramirez said in announcing the proposal.

The Mamdani proposal to make New York City’s minimum wage $30 per hour is currently being considered by the city council.

The survey was conducted on behalf of EPI by CorCom, Inc., a research consulting firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. It was founded by Dr. Lloyd Corder, who holds faculty appointments at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.