Oregon minimum wage rises to $9.25

State analysts say the change could affect as many as 142,000 workers and 8 percent of all jobs in Oregon.

The Oregonian reports that Oregon's minimum wage is second-highest in the nation, behind Washington at $9.45 an hour for next year. Oregon's wage floor adjusts each year in line with inflation and will be $2 above the federal minimum in 2015.

Studies have shown that more than half of Oregon's minimum-wage jobs are tied to the leisure and hospitality sectors of the economy. The law generally applies to all workers, including restaurant workers who receive tips.

The hike comes amid heightened local and national attention to the minimum wage. Critics on the left say the wage floor is too low for people to support their families and escape poverty. Critics on the right say higher minimum wages make it harder for businesses to grow and create new jobs.

After the state Legislature convenes in February with an expanded Democratic majority, lawmakers are likely to weigh a steeper hike in the statewide minimum wage.