October 15, 2012, Written by Jim Turner, Sunshine State News – Minimum wage in Florida will grow to $7.79 an hour with the arrival of the New Year — a 12 cents boost from the current rate. The state Department of Economic Opportunity announced without fanfare the recalculated minimum figure on Monday, and a Washington, D.C., think tank was quick to point out that this will further hinder chances for teens to find work in the Sunshine State.