New Jersey Added Jobs in April
TRENTON – Preliminary labor market estimates for April, produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicated continued stability in New Jersey’s labor market. Total nonfarm employment increased by 4,800 jobs to reach a seasonally adjusted level of 4,398,300 jobs. The state’s unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent.
Revised employment estimates for March were adjusted downward by 3,000 jobs (preliminary estimates were -2,700). The state’s unemployment rate for March remained unchanged at 4.7 percent.
In April, five out of nine private industries recorded employment gains compared to March. Those sectors were education and health services (+7,100), financial activities (+1,600), manufacturing (+900), information (+300), and other services (+200). Sectors that recorded job losses include leisure and hospitality (-2,800), professional and business services (-1,900), trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,100), and construction (-800). The public sector added 1,200 jobs for April.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey has added 36,000 nonfarm jobs, with 76 percent of those gains in the private sector. Four out of nine private sector industries recorded a gain between April 2024 and April 2025. These include private education and health services (+41,300), other services (+2,500), financial activities (+1,700), and manufacturing (+700). Losses were recorded year-over-year in leisure and hospitality (-4,800), information (-4,400), professional and business services (-3,900), construction (-3,300), and trade, transportation, and utilities (-2,400). The public sector has recorded a gain of 8,600 jobs over the past twelve months.
Preliminary BLS estimates data for May 2025 will be released on June 19, 2025. View Press Tables and Charts Here.
