New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's plan for a $30 an hour minimum wage could make it harder for Americans to access entry-level jobs by speeding up automation.

Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, is campaigning on raising the city's minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030 from its current level of $16.50 an hour.

The higher minimum wage could make it more economical for employers to replace lower-skilled workers in occupations like the service industry with automated tools like self-serve kiosks and ordering tablets.

States that have significantly increased their minimum wages above the national minimum of $7.25 have seen teen unemployment rise as employers opt against hiring less experienced workers at higher wage level

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