month after month the U.S job market is defying expectations the latest evidence of that comes from new jersey-based adp's report today on jobs it showed the U.S economy created 242 000 new jobs in February higher than what was forecast and it's more than twice the number of positions created in the prior month the report also showed that worker pay is up 7.2 percent over the past year the ADP report comes out a few days before the government's closely watched monthly employment report where similar job gains are expected the robust hiring comes even after months of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve which is trying to slow economic growth to get inflation under control for women in the workplace their paychecks are typically smaller than their male co-workers on this International women's day women are still earning 82 percent of what Menard the gender pay Gap has barely moved in the past 20 years according to a Pew Research Center analysis but there is some progress elsewhere Courtney McCormick president of executive women of New Jersey says there is a positive trend of more females on corporate boards and more women in leadership roles but it's white women who are making the gains work remains to be done where we see some some lagging Trends really has to do with representation among racial minorities so while we've made tremendous strides I think there Still Remains a lot of work to be done particularly for women of color since nsh Transit launched its Mobile payment app about a decade ago it has sold 140 million tickets but for customers who don't have a bank account or a credit or debit card they have not been able to buy tickets on the app that's now changing NJ Transit has announced Riders will be able to load cash onto the app at one thousand participating Network retailers so that's places like 7-Eleven Walgreens or Family Dollar the cash is then converted to a digital balance allowing them to use the app to purchase tickets now here's a check on trading from Wall Street from today I'm Rhonda Schaffler and those are your top business stories for the business report provided by IBEW Local 102 proudly serving New Jersey's business Community since 1900 Local 102 lighting the path leading the way