Floridian minimum wage workers can expect a few extra pennies in their pockets starting Friday.
The state's minimum wage will rise by four cents, from $7.21 to $7.25, in the second increase of the year.
Traditionally, Florida's minimum wage has been above the federal requirement.
The state wage was raised before from $6.79 to $7.21 on Jan. 1.
Friday's increase will keep the state minimum wage in line with the federal wage, as Washington finishes a series of small wage increases.
Some economists believe an increase in minimum wage will negatively affect business.
" Given the cuts in funding across the campus and the decline in business in general, the odds are that employers will be forced to reduce the number of student hires, unless they are using a student to replace a full-timer who has been released," said Wayne Wallace, a director of UF's Career Resource Center.
Despite economists' claims of a negative pattern, some argue that a four-cent increase will have little effect.
" I don't think it's going to affect [employment] that much. It's not that big of a deal," said Richard Stritkland, manager of the local Backyard Burger.
He added that his company intends to keep its work force at 25 employees.
Similarly, many student workers do not believe they will be affected by the wage increase.
" I get paid mostly from tip share so, while the increase in minimum wage is a great thing, it won't directly affect me as it will to those whose pay is strictly minimum wage," said Melanie Lyon, a UF sophomore.
It is debatable that the progressive raise of the minimum wage squeezed the job market.
" We've been servicing more participants this year than last year," said Josh Wadsworth, an employee at Job Junction, a nonprofit employment office funded by Goodwill of North Florida.
He added that he was unsure if this was due to the wage increases or the economy in general.
College graduates should remain unaffected, as they generally are not looking for minimum wage jobs, according to Wallace.
