Fewer workers making minimum wage

The number of people working at jobs that paid the federal minimum wage dropped last year, CNNMoney.com reported.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures published Wednesday show that an estimated 3.6 million people were paid hourly rates at or below the federal minimum wage in 2012, down from 3.8 million a year earlier.

An estimated 4.7 percent of hourly workers make minimum wage or less, down from 5.2 percent a year earlier. That's the lowest share since 2008.