Almost 700,000 unemployed Australians could struggle to find a job after the minimum wage was increased by three per cent today.

A minimum wage increase was announced today affecting over 2 million low paid workers.

The $21.60 per week rise brings total earnings to $740.80 a week.

Unions have been pushing for a six per cent rise to eventually reach a living wage.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO James Pearson tells Ben Fordham small businesses will struggle to pay their current workers and hire extra staff.

“If we put the price of a job for the people up too much it will just become uneconomic, unaffordable for business… to hire them.

“For small businesses, in particular, they struggle to actually put up their prices to try and get back some of the increased costs.”

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