New Jersey employers added 6,000 jobs in January and the state’s unemployment rate is at 5.2%, a decline from 5.4% in the two previous months, according to new data released Thursday by state officials.
The preliminary New Jersey employment estimates, produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed six out of nine major private industry sectors recorded month-over-month job growth.
Sectors recording gains include professional and business services (+2,600), private education and health services (+1,800), construction (+1,600), other services (+1,500), manufacturing (+500), and trade, transportation, and utilities (+400).
The public sector recorded a gain of 400 jobs.
Jobs losses occurred in leisure and hospitality (-1,800), information (-600), and financial activities (-400).
The BLS’s benchmark process – a required annual review and adjustment of previously released employment data at the state and metropolitan area levels – showed a significant change in total nonfarm jobs from Dec. 2024 to 2025.
That figure was adjusted lower to show a gain of 5,100, from the previously reported gain of 9,000 jobs.
The two-year job gain from December 2023 to December 2025 was revised to 37,900, or 10,300 fewer jobs than previously estimated.
The revised estimates also show that over the Dec. 2024-Dec. 2025 period three out of nine major private industry sectors added to their payrolls.
Year-over-year gains were recorded in private education and health services (+29,000), construction (+800), and information (+800). Year-over-year losses were recorded in trade, transportation, and utilities (-5,600), manufacturing (-4,800), professional and business services (-4,800), leisure and hospitality (-2,900), financial activities (-400), and other services (-4,000).
Public sector employment declined year-over-year by 3,000 jobs.
