Employment in New Jersey Stable in August

On Sep 14, 2017

After strong job growth in June and July, employment in the Garden State remained stable in August, with the modest addition of 200 jobs, according to preliminary estimates released today by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Payrolls in both the private and public sectors of New Jersey’s economy were nearly unchanged in August after employers added nearly 22,000 over the summer months. Total nonfarm employment increased by 200 jobs (-700 private, +900 public) to reach a seasonally adjusted level of 4,129,400 in August.

Looking at employment over the longer term, New Jersey’s private sector employers have added 42,400 jobs over the past year (August 2016 – August 2017). Since the recessionary low of February 2010, private sector employment in the Garden State has increased by 322,800 jobs.

Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released July estimates were revised to an over-the-month (June-July) total nonfarm employment gain of 6,700 jobs. Preliminary estimates had initially indicated an over-the-month gain of 9,800 jobs.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in New Jersey ticked up to 4.5 percent in August, up from 4.2 percent in July, according to preliminary estimates by the BLS. The unemployment rate in New Jersey remains 0.5 percentage point lower than it was in August 2016 at 5.0 percent.

In August, job gains were posted in five of nine major private industry sectors. Sectors that increased included leisure and hospitality (+3,700), education and health services (+2,200), construction (+1,300), trade, transportation and utilities (+100) and manufacturing (+100). Sectors that recorded a loss were professional and business services (-4,600), other services (-1,500), financial activities (-1,300), and information (-600). Over the month, public sector employment was higher by 900 jobs.

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