Beginning July 1, the nation's minimum wage will be increased by three per cent. Translating to an additional $0.56 per hour, it will bring the nation's lowest paid to $740.80 per week.

It follows a 3.5 per cent increase in last year's review.

While the figures for the Riverina are not known, there are around 2.2 million workers in Australia currently receiving minimum wage.

Having spent three years as a senior consultant at Huntsman Recruitment, Katie Fuller does not believe there would be many low paid workers in Wagga.

"These days, we see more people getting around the mid-$20 mark now. That's normal, and that's really great that businesses are able to pay above award."

Nevertheless, the city's financial support workers expressed concern that an increase in wages would mean an increased burden for Wagga's most vulnerable.

Last year, the unemployment reached 5.5 per cent according to Centrelink.

St Vincent de Paul's Joanne Crawley fears it may increase if fewer businesses can put on staff.

"A wage increase usually means a rent increase is on the way too," Ms Crawley said.

"So, it's not too great for people who have found themselves without a job."

It is a situation that is particularly telling in the city's current competitive job market, said Ms Fuller.

"We have a retail role at the moment that we've had 180 applicants for just in the last fortnight," she said.

"There was also an admin role that got 160 applicants.

"There are a lot of people looking for work, but it doesn't mean they're all without jobs.

"They could be looking to change jobs, and now that wages are a little higher, it could be an incentive."

Recognising the increase as a win for workers, Ms Fuller said it would be too early to tell how the additional costs would affect regional businesses.

But, the NSW Business Chamber has estimated the increase will cost an extra $1 billion per year.

"Small businesses may not be able to pay above minimum wage, but for established businesses, it won't really make much of a difference," said Ms Fuller.

About 5000 businesses operate across Wagga.

"The businesses that have closed down have done so after a range of factors. We are in the middle of a rural and agricultural community, so the drought has played a larger role in it than the cost of wages," Ms Fuller said.