The state labor department is announcing an increase in the minimum wage for home care aides.
Effective this month, the minimum wage is now $17 an hour in New York City and its suburbs, and $15.20 an hour for the rest of the state.
Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon believes the increase will help attract more people to the profession.
The minimum wage in our area for all other workers was already scheduled to rise to $14.20 at the end of December.