About the Living Wage Ordinance
Employment requirements
On Nov. 4, 2005 the Minneapolis City Council adopted the Minneapolis Living Wage and Responsible Public Spending Ordinance . The ordinance replaces the City’s Living Wage Policy.
The Living Wage Ordinance, which includes the Business Subsidy Act, requires covered projects to create at least one full-time living wage job for each $25,000 of business subsidy. State law contains many exemptions. The City places its own requirements on subsidies valued at $100,000 or more and with the intention, or end result, of creating or keeping jobs.
State business subsidy
A state business subsidy is a grant, loan below market rate, contribution or assistance that is given to a business.
Read the Minnesota Business Subsidy Act
Minneapolis Living Wage data
City of Minneapolis Living Wage refers to jobs that pay:
- 130% of poverty (federal poverty guidelines adjusted yearly) for a family of four (4) without health coverage provided by employer, or
- 110% of poverty (federal poverty guidelines adjusted yearly) for a family of four (4) with health coverage provided by employer.
Living Wage Rate effective January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
- 130% of poverty for a family of four (4) without health coverage provided by employer.
- 2024 living wage: $40,560 or $19.50 per hour at 2,080 hours worked per year or
- 110% of poverty for a family of four (4) with health coverage provided by employer.
- 2024 living wage: $34,320 or $16.50 per hour at 2,080 hours worked per year.
Training opportunities
Job Linkage Program
Job linkage agreements encourage businesses to:
- Establish five-year job hiring and retention goals
- Hire Minneapolis residents
- Pay living wages
Any business that receives financial assistance from the City, even if it does not qualify as a City business subsidy, may be asked to sign a job linkage agreement. As part of this agreement, the business and the neighborhood workforce development need to partner. Together, they can help to identify, train and place new employees.
The City originally adopted the Minneapolis Job Linkage Program in 1991. Minneapolis City Council amended it in 1995 to make a framework for city economic development programs and projects.
Training programs
Through a network of employment service agencies, the City of Minneapolis:
- Connects people to training opportunities
- Provide work-ready job applicants to Minneapolis businesses
Work programs for youth
We offer many ways for young people to prepare for the workplace and train for a meaningful career.