California's ambitious $20 minimum wage for fast food workers has already led to steep job losses, according to a new economic study. While supporters claim the hike helped workers, data suggests it's pushed many out of work entirely. Key Facts: California raised its minimum wage for fast food workers to $20/hour on April 1, 2024. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found the state lost 18,000 fast food jobs"down 3.2% compared to other states. Employment in the same sector rose by about 0.1% nationwide during the same period. The law, AB 1228, gave a state-appointed council power to set fast food wages going forward. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office disputed the findings, citing a UC Berkeley study with different conclusions.