NEW JERSEY IS AMONG 14 STATES TO HAVE INCREASED ITS STATEWIDE MINIMUM WAGE
Last November, New Jersey residents successfully voted to increase the state minimum wage by one dollar. As such, legislation signed by Governor Chris Christie increased the statewide hourly minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25, effective January 1, 2014.
New Jersey is among 14 states to implement higher wage increases, including, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, Montana, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. New Jersey is now tied with Connecticut, Washington D.C. and Illinois, as the fourth state in the nation for the highest minimum wage, following Oregon, at $8.95 per hour, Vermont, at $8.60 per hour, and Washington, at $9.19 per hour. Interestingly, however, of the states tied for fourth place, only New Jersey’s minimum wage rate incorporates annual wage increases tied to the cost of living.