Recently, the Guam Department of Labor released its quarterly Unemployment Report for June 2023. By conventional analysis, with an unemployment rate of only 4%, Guam’s economy is essentially at full employment. The recent release of Current Employment Reports tell essentially the same story. There is a minor caveat, that somewhat more of the employment than would typically be the case is attributable to either foreign or stateside construction workers. The labor market is likely to become even more competitive as Guam’s tourism market continues to recover.
The job market had, in fact, essentially recovered back in March 2023, according to the best data we have, but that didn’t stop fearmongering about raising the minimum wage in April. There has been no increase to the minimum wage since September 2021, when Guam’s minimum wage rose from $8.75 to $9.25 per hour. Since that time, the cost of living has risen around 17%. If the minimum wage had kept with inflation, it would be $10.80 today.
There should be no full-time job which pays less than a Living Wage. Guam must join the growing movement of states, counties, and cities across the United States that are adopting a Living Wage of at least $15 per hour. The working people of Guam need a decent standard of living for themselves and their families.
Guam is by no means a poor community. It has a comparable GDP per capita as highly developed nations such as France. The working people of Guam must come together and demand more for their families. Solidarity!
GuamMinimumWage.org 