New Jersey recorded a decrease of 4,400 jobs between July and August, bringing the seasonally adjusted total to 4,369,400 jobs, according to Thursday estimates released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The state’s unemployment rate ticked up by a tenth of a percentage point, to 4.8% in August.
In August, gains in the private sector were seen in four out of nine private industries. Sectors that recorded job gains include education and health services (+1,000), manufacturing (+900), financial activities (+900) and leisure and hospitality (+200).
Sectors that recorded employment losses included professional and business services (-2,700), construction (-1,600), trade, transportation and utilities (-500), other services (-400) and information (-200). Public-sector jobs decreased by 2,000 for August, mostly at the local level.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey has added 49,600 nonfarm jobs. About 86% of those gains were in the private sector, with four out of nine private sector industries recording a gain between August 2023 and August.
