New Jersey’s unemployment rate reached 5.2% in September, making it the fourth highest in the United States for that month, according to data released by the federal government. This figure is notably higher than the national average of 4.4%.
The only areas with higher rates were the District of Columbia at 6.2%, California at 5.6%, and Nevada at 5.3%. Oregon matched New Jersey’s rate at 5.2%. Other states exceeding the national average included Michigan (5.1%), Ohio (4.8%), Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Alaska (each at 4.7%), as well as Washington State, Rhode Island, and Delaware (all at 4.5%).
The release of this data was delayed by three weeks due to a federal government shutdown that lasted from October 1 to November 12.
State labor officials reported that both public and private employers in New Jersey added a total of 10,900 jobs in September, bringing employment to a seasonally adjusted level of 4,401,800 positions. The preliminary job growth figures for August were also revised upward by an additional 1,700 jobs.
Seven out of nine private industry sectors saw job gains compared to August: trade, transportation and utilities (+3,200); private education and health services (+2,500); leisure and hospitality (+1,800); construction (+500); manufacturing (+500); financial activities (+500); and other services (+200). The public sector also recorded an increase of 5,300 jobs during September.
However, there were declines in professional and business services (-3,400) and information (-200).
Over the year ending in September, New Jersey gained a net total of 26,400 nonfarm jobs. While the public sector lost 2,800 positions over this period, the private sector added 29,200 jobs.
Year-over-year analysis shows six out of nine private industry sectors posted gains: private education and health services (+28,500), professional and business services (+13,400), leisure and hospitality (+4,700), financial activities (+1,900), manufacturing (+1,800), and other services (+700). Sectors experiencing losses included construction (-10,000), trade/transportation/utilities (-6,400), and information (-5,400).
Compared with September last year when New Jersey’s unemployment rate stood at 4.6%, there has been a year-over-year increase of 0.6 percentage points.
