Every parent and grandparent in Oklahoma shares a common hope: that our children and grandchildren will choose to build their lives, careers, and families right here in Oklahoma. We want them to be the next generation of entrepreneurs, teachers, and skilled tradespeople who will continue to make sure this state continues to improve and grow. .
But there is a quiet crisis brewing that threatens that future. We are rapidly becoming a state that is too expensive for its own young people to start a life in.
The “Starter Home” is Now a “Survival Struggle”
According to the latest report from Scioto Analysis about housing affordability and raising the minimum wage, the group hit hardest by our state’s housing crisis is our young adults.
Currently, nearly half (46%) of Oklahomans aged 17 to 24 are housing cost burdened. This means one out of every two young people starting their first job or finishing their education is spending so much on rent that they are struggling to afford the basics.
For many in this age group, “entry-level” work at the current $7.25 minimum wage doesn’t even cover an entry-level apartment. While middle-aged Oklahomans (ages 45–54) have the lowest rates of housing burden at 21%, our youngest workers are facing a burden twice as heavy. We are asking the people with the least experience and the lowest savings to shoulder the highest financial pressure.
Survival Mode vs. Growth Mode
When a 22-year-old has to spend 50% of their paycheck just to keep a roof over their head, they aren’t participating in the Oklahoma economy, they are struggling to survive in it.
They aren’t saving for a down payment on a house.
They aren’t buying a reliable vehicle to get to a better job.
They aren’t starting small businesses or investing in further education.
By keeping wages at 2009 levels while housing costs have surged by 24% since 2019 alone, we are forcing our youth into “survival mode.” This doesn’t just hurt them; it stunts Oklahoma’s long-term economic growth.
Stopping the “Brain Drain”
We often talk about “brain drain”—the fear that our best and brightest will leave Oklahoma for opportunities elsewhere. While we have a low cost of living compared to the coasts, that advantage disappears when wages are so low that rent is still unaffordable.
If a young graduate can move across the border to a state with a higher minimum wage and find a better balance between their paycheck and their rent, many will take it. To keep our talent here, we have to make Oklahoma a place where a starting wage actually allows you to start a life.
The $15 Impact: A 18% Step Forward
The Scioto Analysis projections show that raising the minimum wage to $15 would be a massive investment in our youth. For the 17–24 age group, a $15 wage could reduce the number of housing-burdened households by as much as 18% in high-impact scenarios.
This isn’t a handout; it’s a market correction. It’s about ensuring that our entry-level wages keep pace with our entry-level rents.
The Bottom Line
If we want Oklahoma to be a top-tier state for the next fifty years, we have to make it a place where young people can afford to plant roots. We can’t expect them to build a future on a 15-year-old wage floor.
Let’s invest in our future by making it affordable to live here today. Support a $15 minimum wage to keep the next generation of Oklahomans at home.
Read the entire report here.
