Gov. Phil Murphy participated in a roundtable discussion in Newark on Wednesday about New Jersey’s minimum wage.

The minimum wage in New Jersey is now $15.13 per hour. This new wage went into effect on Jan. 1. The wage impacts about 350,000 hourly workers in the Garden State. Murphy says he is proud of this accomplishment and believes the rate should go higher.

"It feels like it was in the way distant past when you think about where the minimum wage was six years ago this month versus where it is today and where it will continue to go,” Murphy said. "We'll make this continue to go up. I think - I don't want to speak for everybody, but I'll speak for myself - I'm open-minded to consider what else we can do. Particularly given where inflation may be headed.”

The governor says he is disappointed that the federal minimum wage is only $7.25 per hour

He says he hopes New Jersey can act as an example for other states.