New Jersey’s statewide minimum wage will increase by US$0.36 to $15.49 per hour for most employees, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) sets the minimum wage for the coming year based on any increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Aligning the state minimum wage with any increases in the cost of living is a critical step toward economic fairness and security for all New Jersey workers,” said Robert Asaro-Angelo, labor commissioner. “This adjustment fosters a more equitable economy and ensures our workforce can continue to thrive.”

Under the law, the minimum wage rate for employees of seasonal and small employers will continue to increase gradually until 2028 to lessen the impact on those businesses. The minimum hourly wage for these employees will increase to $14.53 on Jan. 1, up from $13.73.

New Jersey’s minimum wage increase is not unlike increases set for other states and cities. In 2025, minimum wage in  Rhode Island, Illinois, and Delaware wage is set to increase to $15 per hour. New York State’s minimum wage will increase to $15.50 on Jan. 1, 2025. On July 1, Chicago already set its minimum wage at $16.20 an hour.

Other states with minimum wages set at $15 or more include: California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, and Washington, D.C. Currently, Washington, D.C., has the highest state/territory minimum at $17.50.

In November, voters will decide whether to increase California’s minimum wage gradually to $18 an hour, which would be the highest statewide minimum wage by 2026. In California, fast-food workers already must be paid at least $20 per hour. Nearly 40 California cities already have local minimum wages higher than the state’s.

New research published in Science showed the experimental messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine protected against first-time infections with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) bacteria and also against relapsing infections in mice and nonhuman primates.

Researchers are developing the first vaccine against the highly contagious and difficult-to-treat C. diff, using the technology behind the mRNA vaccines that combated coronavirus that caused COVID-19. Like COVID-19 vaccines, the C. diff mRNA vaccine uses genetic material from the bacteria to train the immune system to recognize and respond in the event of future infections.

Earlier attempts at producing vaccines against C. diff have been unsuccessful, although several are currently in development, Reuters reported. In this new research, mice vaccinated with traditional-style vaccines all perished within a day after being infected with the bacteria. Adding a booster to the traditional-style vaccines increased survival by 20%, but immunization with the mRNA vaccine improved survival to 100%. The researchers said the results pave the way for trials in humans.

C. diff is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (ADD), and accounts for 15 to 25% of all ADD, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported. Other C. diff-caused complications include colon damage, sepsis, and—on rare occasions—death. Roughly one-third of infected individuals will have recurrent infections.

C. diff spores can be transferred to patients by the hands of healthcare personnel who have touched a contaminated surface or item. To protect against C. diff, clean and disinfect surfaces and manage body substance spills promptly, per CDC’s Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities. Perform routine cleaning before disinfection. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered disinfectants with a sporicidal claim have been successful in environmental surface disinfection of patient-care areas where surveillance and epidemiology indicate ongoing transmission of C. diff.