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Adults will have to be paid at least £12 an hour from next month after the States backed an increase to the minimum wage.
In doing so, they also rejected options being pushed by Economic Development for a lower level.
The young person's rate, for those aged 16 and 17, will also be set at £10.80 an hour from October.
The increase is above inflation as the States makes progress to its policy target agreed six years ago of setting the minimum wage at 60% of median earnings.
Economic Development President Neil Inder led an amendment to try to insert different options for the rate - either £11.25 an hour for adults, or £11.55.
Deputy Inder hit out at Employment and Social Security’s proposals as being a policy based on “absolutely no data whatsoever”.
He spoke about fears for the impact on businesses, with data showing falling numbers of jobs in a string of sectors including manufacturing, construction, retail, storage and arts, entertainment and recreation.
“We need to start listening to what we are seeing out there,” he said.
ESS President Peter Roffey spoke against how the amendment was constructed, saying there was a real danger of people voting for the middle ground option for fear they would get no increase whatsoever.
“Are we really happy that adults are having to support themselves on this expensive island, working full time to support themselves and their families, should be paid less than £12 an hour?
“I don't think this Assembly should be happy with that.”
Jersey’s minimum wage will rise to £13 per hour from April and will go even higher in April 2026 when it plans to set a “living wage” at two thirds, 66.66%, of the 2024 median wage.
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