Connecticut and California Announce 2027 Minimum Wage Increases

In separate announcements, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and California Governor Gavin Newsom said their states' minimum wages will increase effective January 1, 2027. Connecticut's rate will rise to $17.48 per hour from $16.94, while California's will rise to $17.40 from $16.90. Connecticut's governor's office announced its increase on August 6, 2026; California's announcement was reported by The Guardian on August 1, 2026. Both increases stem from state laws requiring annual minimum wage adjustments tied to economic indicators. In Connecticut, the adjustment is mandated under a law enacted in 2019, with Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo citing a 3.2% increase in the employment cost index over the twelve months ending June 30, 2026, as the basis for the new rate. California's law similarly ties annual adjustments to economic conditions, though the specific index or calculation method was not detailed in available reporting. The Guardian reported that California's new rate would become the highest minimum wage of any U.S. state. Both increases are set to take effect January 1, 2027. The Guardian's report noted that Newsom framed the increase publicly as support for working families amid high living costs and included critical remarks directed at the Trump administration; no similar political framing was reported in connection with Connecticut's announcement. Details such as the exact methodology behind California's wage calculation, and whether other states may set higher minimum wages before 2027, remain unaddressed in the available reporting.