I love how people who don't even live near Seattle do research about it. That would be like me preaching about Boston.
TBQH, the minimum wage has effected the game in ways not even mentioned.
Big business has felt nothing at all, as most hire above $15/hr.
More than any state I have ever worked in, Washington is a very competitive workplace. Take up slack or go home. People even conspire to kick others to the curb. It's fairly cutthroat from low wage all the way up.
So imagine what happened when employees get paid more. Your connections that got you the job won't save you from the fire. Perform or get shitcanned.
Aside from smaller food related establishments, (bakeries, niche eateries), the amount of employees hasn't lowered as much as people think.
What a lot of companies are trying to do is send the wagers home early to compensate. Oh he had a full day Monday, so maybe call him/her off one day or send home early on Tuesday.
Running a tight ship at any given moment while keeping spending down.
Meanwhile Seattle itself is becoming the land of 6 figures. Such a giant tech boom that some companies have other hq in Tacoma just to handle it.
So what of the burger flippers? It's rare to see anyone without braces in the drivethru now. You can be certain that instead of raises, it will just be a new face next time you stop by. Save for Starbucks that actually has a lil love for their employees. (a lil)
Most importantly, Seattle and the rest of the state are in the middle of a major shift. Washington hasn't even agreed on the 2017-19 budget.
All in all though, plenty of work to be found in Washington, and the state government is even setting up jobs in Seattle just for low income families in the near future.
People who are writing these articles aren't taking everything into consideration either. My home's value is increasing $40k per year. Write about that Washington Post.
Your anecdotal evidence definitely proves the source in the OP wrong since you happen to reside in Seattle. Or something. ---
Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. -George Orwell