JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Pro-labor groups and supporters rallied outside the Mississippi State Capitol on Labor Day to support working Mississippians.

About 250 people gathered on the south side of the Capitol around 12:00 p.m. They rallied for about two hours as part of a series of Labor Day protests across the nation. Advocates said working people across the state are entitled to fair living wages, benefits and on-the-job training.

Mississippi does not have a state minimum wage, so employers under the Fair Labor Standards Act follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

Pam Johnson, a local rally organizer, believes giving Mississippians a chance to make more than the federal minimum will give citizens more opportunities to succeed.

“There would be people who would not be having to have two or three jobs. It’s been very hard. There’s a reason Mississippi is listed among the most impoverished states in the nation. You know, when people aren’t making money, that’s what happens,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, she’s talked with lawmakers about giving Mississippians an opportunity to make more than the federal minimum wage in the past. She’s hopeful action will be taken sooner rather than later.