Economy

SQ 832 risks killing the very jobs that keep people out of poverty

April 29, 2026

Curtis Shelton

Joblessness and poverty are closely linked. That may sound obvious—but it’s often overlooked in debates about raising the minimum wage.

Research consistently shows just how strong that connection is. In a paper by Angela Rachidi, looking over a three-year period, only 22 percent of households with a continuously employed adult experienced any time in poverty. But when employment became unstable—even just intermittent joblessness—that number jumped to more than 74 percent.

Other studies reinforce the same point: the faster someone reenters the workforce after losing a job, the less likely they are to fall into or remain in poverty. Families who have a parent finding and keeping employment within six months of first becoming unemployed only saw their poverty rate grow 1.1 percentage points, whereas those with on-and-off-again jobs and persistent unemployment had their poverty rates grow by 4.7 and 23.3 percentage points, respectively.

That matters when considering State Question 832.

One of the most predictable effects of large, mandated wage increases is reduced employment opportunities—especially for low-wage and entry-level workers. And those jobs matter more than many realize. For countless Oklahomans, they are the first step into the workforce—a starting point that leads to higher wages, more responsibility, and long-term stability.

In fact, research shows that most minimum-wage workers don’t stay there long. Many move up within a year, gaining skills and earning higher pay as they go. These jobs are not dead ends—they are launch points.

It’s also important to understand who minimum-wage workers actually are. Research from economist Jonathan Meer finds that more than 75 percent are under the age of 35, with about half under 25. And roughly 40 percent come from households well above the poverty line.

In other words, minimum-wage jobs are often held by younger workers—many of whom are just starting out and still supported by their families—not individuals trapped in long-term poverty.

The best way to alleviate poverty is to prevent people from ever entering it in the first place. Finding and keeping a job is one of the best ways of doing that. For many, a low-wage job is the critical first step on that path. It provides income, structure, experience, and a foothold in the workforce.

Policies that make those jobs harder to find—or eliminate them altogether—don’t reduce poverty. They increase the risk of it. That’s a recipe for more poverty, not less, and one all Oklahomans should reject.