It is time for our elected officials to do right by working North Carolinians and Raise the Wage to $15 by 2023.

Too many of our employers are not paying us a family-sustaining wage. At a time when productivity and profits are at an all-time high, wages have stagnated and are too low. Almost 1 in 3 working North Carolinians is paid so little that they are living below the federal poverty line. Nearly half of all working people in our state makes less than $15 an hour.

Everyone needs good wages to sustain their family and provide opportunities to prosper. We need more good jobs that pay enough to put food on the table, gas in the car, a roof over our heads, child care for our kids and enough to save for retirement.

Bigger paychecks also mean higher sales and bigger profits for local businesses — creating a cycle that helps businesses hire more people, boost the economy and provide the tax revenue to invest in our public schools, roads and a great quality of life for our community.