Preliminary estimates produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that total nonfarm wage and salary employment in New Jersey increased in September by 21,500, to reach a seasonally adjusted level of 4,000,500, the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development said Thursday afternoon.
A few stats and facts:
- The 21,500 new employees mark the ninth consecutive month of gains in the state’s total nonfarm job level;
- The gains were split roughly evenly between the private (+11,900) and public (+9,600) sectors of the state’s economy;
- The state has now recovered 488,100 jobs, or about 68% of the number lost in March and April 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic;
- The state’s unemployment rate moved lower by 0.1 percentage point, to 7.1% for the month.
- Employment increases in September were recorded in seven out of nine major private sectors. Sectors that recorded job gains include professional and business services (+4,300), leisure and hospitality (+2,500), trade, transportation, and utilities (+2,300), construction (+2,200), manufacturing (+1,100), education and health services (+400), and financial activities (+200).
A quick note: Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released total nonfarm employment estimates for August were revised lower to show an over-the-month (July to August) increase of 18,300 jobs. Preliminary estimates had indicated an over-the-month increase of 20,300 jobs. The state’s August unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.2%.
