New Jersey Employment Shows Modest Gain in September

Unemployment Rate Remains at 4.2 Percent

On Oct 18, 2018

New Jersey employers added to their payrolls for a fifth consecutive month in September, according to preliminary estimates produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Total nonfarm wage and salary employment increased modestly in September, up by 1,000 jobs, to reach a seasonally adjusted level of 4,195,900. All of the gain occurred in the private sector of the state’s economy, which added 1,900 jobs for the month. The state’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent for September.

Looking at the longer-term, over the year September 2017 – September 2018, employment in New Jersey was higher by 58,000, with the majority of the gains recorded by private sector employers (+56,900). Since February 2010 (the low point of the last recession), New Jersey’s private sector employers have added 388,600 jobs.

Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released total nonfarm employment estimates for August were revised lower by 800 jobs to show an over-the-month (July – August) increase of 800 jobs.

In September, employment increases were recorded in five out of nine major private industry sectors. Industry sectors which added jobs over the month include professional and business services (+2,800), information (+1,200), leisure and hospitality (+900), financial activities (+600), and other services (+200). Job losses over the month occurred in the education and health services (-2,100), construction (-1,500), and manufacturing (-200) sectors. Job levels in the trade, transportation, and utilities did not record a change. Over the month, public sector employment was lower by 900 jobs.

Preliminary BLS data for October 2018 will be released on Nov. 15.

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