NJ Job Growth Flat, Unemployment Rate Holds at 4.8%
Hiring remained flat in New Jersey in May with total employment standing at a seasonally adjusted level of 4,394,500 jobs, the same level as in April, according to federal data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The state unemployment rate was also unchanged in May at 4.8%, which is 0.6 percentage points above the national average of 4.2%.
The data, which comes from preliminary estimates compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed New Jersey’s private sector gained 1,300 jobs while the public sector lost 1,300 jobs for a net gain of 0.
Meanwhile, the previously released employment estimates for April (+4,800 jobs) were adjusted downward by 3,800 jobs, resulting in a March to April gain of only 1,000 jobs. The revision did not affect the state’s April unemployment rate of 4.8%.
In May, five of nine private industries in New Jersey recorded employment gains compared to April. These sectors were leisure and hospitality (+4,200), professional and business services (+900), manufacturing (+400), trade, transportation, and utilities (+300), and financial activities (+100).
Job losses for May occurred in education and health services (-1,700), construction (-1,100), information (-900), and other services (-900). The public sector lost 1,300 jobs in May.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey has added 25,300 nonfarm jobs, with 82% of those gains in the private sector. Five out of nine private sector industries recorded a gain between May 2024 and May 2025. These include private education and health services (+35,000), other services (+1,500), financial activities (+1,400), and manufacturing (+500). The public sector has recorded a gain of 4,600 jobs over the past 12 months.
Year-over-year job losses were recorded in information (-5,000), construction (-4,600), trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,100), professional and business services (-3,200), and leisure and hospitality (-800).
The state’s 4.8% unemployment rate for May 2025 was 0.3 percentage points higher than it was in May 2024, when it was 4.5%.
Article sourced from the NJ Business & Industry Association.