Total nonfarm employment in New Jersey rose in July by 7,500 jobs to a seasonally adjusted level of 4,385,400 jobs, while the state’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9%. These are preliminary labor market estimates for July that were produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July, six out of nine private industries recorded employment gains compared with June. Those sectors were professional and business services (+7,700), leisure and hospitality (+3,000), other services (+2,500), manufacturing (+1,200), private education and health services (+500), and financial activities (+100).
Industries that recorded job losses were construction (-1,600), trade, transportation, and utilities (-200), and information (-100). The public sector posted a loss of 5,600 jobs for July.
Revised employment estimates for June were adjusted downward to a job loss of 14,400 (preliminary estimates had been a loss of 9,700). The state’s unemployment rate for June was unchanged at 4.9%. New Jersey’s jobless rate has been consistently about a half a percentage point higher than the national average. The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in July from 4.1% in June.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey has added 24,800 nonfarm jobs. The private sector recorded a gain of 32,000 over that time. Six out of nine private sector industries posted a gain, including private education and health services (+32,100), professional and business services (+11,600), financial activities (+3,000), manufacturing (+2,500), other services (+1,400), and leisure and hospitality (+1,000).
Losses were recorded year-over-year in construction (-8,000), trade, transportation, and utilities (-6,900), and information (-4,700). The public sector has shed 7,200 jobs over the past 12 months.
