More Ohioans earn low wage than national rate, study finds

Nearly one-fourth of Ohio workers earn less than $17 per hour, the amount anti-poverty nonprofit Oxfam America argues is necessary as a livable wage.

Why it matters: Ohio's figure is slightly higher than the national rate and amounts to over 1.3 million workers who may be struggling to afford rising food and living costs.

Between the lines: Women and people of color are far more likely to have a lower wage, Oxfam reports using U.S. Census Bureau data .

• Younger Ohioans are more likely as well — 62% of workers between 16-24 earn below $17 per hour.
• Comparatively, 22% of workers ages 25-39, 14% between 40-54 and 18% older than 55 do.

State of play: Ohio's hourly minimum wage is $10.45 for non-tipped employees and $5.05 for tipped employees. The wage increases each year with inflation.

• Activists sought to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026, a proposal panned by restaurateurs .
• They failed to submit enough signatures in time for this year, but plan to try again next year, the Ohio Capital Journal reports .