Pennsylvania's minimum-wage workers are likely to be young, white women who are unmarried and working part time, according to a new analysis from the state that challenges the political portrait of a minimum-wage worker trying to support his impoverished urban family.

And so far, the minimum wage increase hasn't had any detectable negative impact on state's economy, which also challenges the portrait painted by business groups and politician against the new base wage.

The data comes from the Minimum Wage Advisory Board and the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, the committees that compiled the report at the behest of the Legislature following its July 2006 vote to increase the state's minimum wage to $7.25 an hour -- with its first steps last year.

About 70 percent of minimum-wage workers work part time in Pennsylvania, and it's unclear how many from either group are the sole or primary household breadwinners.

But the fact that the "typical" minimum-wage earner is a teen or 20-something doesn't mean that the youth cohort didn't deserve a raise, said Jim Deegan, editor of the Pennsylvania ALF-CIO's news journal.

"It's important that the minimum wage [keep up with] the rising cost of education," he said. More and more high school students are moving onto college each year; and at the same time, a college education is becoming more and more expensive.

Still, the minimum wage increase has so far affected few total workers -- a little more than 2 percent of the Pennsylvania work force. (The new base wage won't fully kick in until July, when companies with fewer than 10 full-time employees also are required to abide by it.)

Democrats, aligned with groups and liberal think tanks, lobbied for a minimum wage increase two years ago. Republicans and business groups argued against the increase.

To see the report, visit www.dli.state.pa.us.