This is what we know about the Newson lies:
“As it turns out, thus far, the 33.3% wage increase for fast-food workers in California has resulted in almost 16,000 job losses — a decline of 2.8% — across the limited-service food industry from September 2023 (when AB 1228 was signed into law) until September 2024, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Since the law went into effect in April, California’s limited-service restaurant industry has seen an employment rate decline of 2.5%.
Those are the jobs lost. NOT counted are the jobs that never opened up. How many tens of thousands were they? Yet, Newsom believes no jobs were lost and this was good for the employees of the food industry—spoken like the ultra-rich person he is. Does not care about those trying to get a start!
California lost 16,000 restaurant jobs since $20 minimum wage was signed into law
The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that from Sept. September 2023 to September 2024, California fast-food employment declined by 2.8%
Joanna Fantozzi, Nations Restaurant News 3/7/25 https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/california-lost-16-000-restaurant-jobs-since-20-minimum-wage-was-signed-into-law
It has been almost one year since California implemented a $20 minimum wage for quick-service restaurant workers, and industry experts have been debating the long-term effects the wage jump would have on the industry’s job market.
As it turns out, thus far, the 33.3% wage increase for fast-food workers in California has resulted in almost 16,000 job losses — a decline of 2.8% — across the limited-service food industry from September 2023 (when AB 1228 was signed into law) until September 2024, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Since the law went into effect in April, California’s limited-service restaurant industry has seen an employment rate decline of 2.5%.
To compare how the limited-service industry has been faring nationally, U.S. employment in the fast-food industry dipped 0.52% from September 2023 until September 2024, from 4.61 million workers to 4.59 million workers, which is not nearly as sharp of a decline.
“The data definitively shows thousands of jobs have been lost due to this harmful policy, and hardworking Californians are left feeling the burden,” Rebekah Paxton, research director at the Employment Policies Institute, said in a statement. “The Fast-Food Council should immediately halt discussions on increasing the fast-food minimum wage further.”
Additionally, according to a January 2025 report released by global consulting firm, Berkeley Research Group, California’s fast-food restaurants increased their menu prices by 14.5% between September 2023 and October 2024, The national average was 8.2%.
Despite these challenges, the National Restaurant Association has an optimistic view of California’s restaurant industry as a growing employer. The industry organization’s 2025 State of the Industry report, released earlier this year, predicted that over the next decade, California will add the second-largest number of restaurant industry jobs, second only to Texas. The report predicts that California’s restaurant industry jobs will grow by more than 12%, and that Texas, California, and Florida are expected to add the most foodservice jobs by 2035.
