A plan designed to protect U.S.-born workers now faces scrutiny as unemployment climbs and wages falter. Many of the job openings are in physically demanding sectors that native-born workers have largely avoided—at least at current wage levels.

Missouri will ring in the new year by boosting its minimum wage from $13.75 to $15 an hour, a notable leap that puts the state ahead of many others. This move also highlights the ongoing national conversation over fair compensation and the “fight for $15.”