Preliminary employment estimates for December, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), show New Jersey employers added 5,700 jobs in December to a seasonally adjusted level of 4,402,200 jobs. The state’s unemployment rate in December was unchanged at 5.4%.
Revised employment and labor force estimates for November resulted in an upward revision of 500 jobs, leading to a revised October to November loss of 1,200 jobs. The state’s unemployment rate for November remained at 5.4%.
In December, five out of nine private industry sectors recorded employment gains compared with November. Those sectors were leisure and hospitality (+3,000), private education and health services (+2,800), professional and business services (+2,500), financial activities (+600), and information (+300).
Sectors that posted job losses include trade, transportation, and utilities (-3,200), manufacturing (-500), construction (-100), and other services (-100). The public sector recorded a gain of 400 jobs for the month.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey has added 9,000 non-farm jobs, with private-sector employment increasing by 9,200 jobs. Two out of nine private industry sectors recorded a gain, including private education and health services (+28,400) and professional and business services (+8,900).
Losses were recorded year-over-year in construction (-10,200), trade, transportation, and utilities (-9,800), other services (-3,500), information (-3,400), manufacturing (-600), financial activities (-300), and leisure and hospitality (-200). The public sector recorded a loss of 200 jobs over the past 12 months.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said preliminary employment estimates for January 2026, along with benchmarked employment and labor force estimates for 2025 and earlier years, are tentatively planned for release in early April, pending an official schedule announcement from BLS. The benchmarking process will result in revisions to the previously released employment and labor force estimates.
