New Jersey’s minimum wage is set to increase to $15.13 per hour starting January 1 pursuant to P.L. 2019, c. 32. This is a $1 per hour increase i from the previous minimum wage of $14.13 per hour.
The hike will impact around 350,000 of the state’s approximately 1.9 million hourly workers. However, there are exemptions and different timelines for various worker classes. For example, seasonal employers and businesses with six or fewer employees have until 2026 to increase the hourly minimum wage to $15 per hour. Agricultural workers will also see a slower wage increase, reaching $15 per hour by 2027, with an interim raise to $12.81 per hour in 2024.
In addition, the Department of Labor announced changes to the maximum benefit rates and taxable wage base for Unemployment Insurance, Temporary Disability Insurance, Family Leave Insurance, and Workers’ Compensation programs.
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.