Starting July 1, workers who work for minimum wage in Illinois received a pay increase.
Former Governor Rod Blagojevich signed legislation that would gradually increase the minimum wage over a three-year period. On July 1, 2010, the raise will rise another quarter to $8.25.
The national minimum wage rate is scheduled to increase at the end of July to $7.25.
Critics of the Illinois increase say that unemployment in Illinois is higher than its been in approximately 25 years and that employers may have to offset costs by cutting employee hours.
Illinois has the highest minimum wage rate in the Midwest.
