New Jersey employers added 9,800 jobs in June to reach a seasonally adjusted level of 4,212,800, the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development said Thursday.
The state’s June unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.9%, which is slightly higher than the 3.6% national unemployment rate.
Over the first six months of the year, New Jersey employers added 96,000 jobs for an average monthly gain of 16,000. The state has now recovered about 98% of the jobs that were lost in early 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic began.
The DOL said New Jersey’s private sector employment is now at 3,629,900 and exceeds the pre-pandemic jobs level recorded in February 2020 by 8,600 jobs.
In June, employment increases were recorded in five out of nine major private industry sectors: leisure and hospitality (+7,600); trade, transportation, and utilities (+4,200); education and health services (+3,800); manufacturing (+1,600); and other services (+400). Over the month, public sector employment increased by 200 jobs.
In the private sector, job losses were recorded in four industry sectors: financial activities (-2,700); professional and business services (-2,600); construction (-2,200); and information (-500).
Based on more complete reporting from employers, the previously released total nonfarm employment estimates for May were revised higher by 3,900 jobs to show an over-the-month (April – May) increase of 10,600. Preliminary estimates had indicated an over-the-month gain of 6,700 jobs.
