DC minimum wage increased in July 2015 to $10.50 an hour, DC restaurant suffer the largest loss of food jobs during a 6-month period in 15 years

From mark Perry, via the WSJ.

"Economist Mark J. Perry writing on the blog of the American Enterprise Institute, Aug. 23:
 
Cities and states around the country that are considering a hike in their minimum wages to $15 an hour might want to take a look at how that’s working out in the nation’s capital. . . .

New BLS data for restaurant employment in July . . . tell the story pretty clearly. Since the DC minimum wage increased in July 2015 to $10.50 an hour, restaurant employment in the city has increased less than 1% (and by 500 jobs), while restaurant jobs in the surrounding suburbs increased 4.2% (and by 7,300 jobs). An even more dramatic effect has taken place since the start of this year—DC restaurant jobs fell by 1,400 jobs (and by 2.7%) in the first six months of 2016 between January and July—that’s the largest loss of District food jobs during a 6-month period in 15 years."