New Report Finds Wage Increase Would Significantly Reduce Economic Hardships for Oklahoma Families and Lift 40,000 Oklahomans Out of Poverty, including 16,000 Children.
Broader economic benefits include increasing Oklahoma’s workforce competitiveness in attracting and retaining workers.
Oklahoma City, OK – April 28, 2026 – A comprehensive study examining the potential impact of Oklahoma’s upcoming minimum wage ballot measure reveals that raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour will lift 40,000 residents, including 16,000 children, out of poverty. The study also links a higher minimum wage to improving economic conditions for families across the state and an increase for Oklahoma’s workforce competitiveness in attracting and retaining workers.
The report, written by Scioto Analysis and released by the team at This Land Research and Communications Collaborative takes a deep dive into how increasing the minimum wage to $15 impacts poverty and the cost of living.
“Our analysis shows an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour will have a significant impact for Oklahoma families and the overall economy,” Rob Moore, Principal of Scioto Analysis and lead author of the report said, “Lifting 40,000 Oklahomans out of poverty, giving pay raises to the parents of more than 200,000 children will help more Oklahoma families keep up with rising costs and will make Oklahoma the most affordable state in the region for minimum wage workers.”
Oklahoma currently ranks as the eighth-poorest state in the nation, with one in seven residents living below the federal poverty line. The study found that rising costs following the COVID-19 pandemic have made Oklahoma increasingly expensive for working families.
Key findings from the study include:
- Significant poverty reduction,
- Child welfare improvements,
- Broader economic benefits
- Improvement in Oklahoma’s competitiveness in attracting and retaining workers.
The research also examined the practical impact on working Oklahomans’ ability to afford basic living expenses. According to United Way estimates, a single adult in Oklahoma needs $2,315 per month to cover housing, food, transportation, healthcare, technology, and taxes. Under the current minimum wage, workers must work nearly 74 hours per week to afford these necessities. A $15 minimum wage would reduce that requirement to roughly 36 hours per week.
Additionally, the research suggests that a $15 minimum wage would make Oklahoma the most affordable state for minimum-wage earners in the region–improving the state’s competitiveness in attracting and retaining workers.
About the Study
The research utilized microsimulation modeling built on American Community Survey data from the United States Census Bureau to estimate the economic impacts of the proposed minimum wage increase.
Download the full report here.
