The latest state employment data released Tuesday shows New Jersey’s jobless rate stood at 5.4% in November, a year-over-year increase of 0.8 percentage points.
Employment decreased in November by 1,700 to a seasonally adjusted level of 4,396,000 jobs, while October showed a net loss of 3,600 jobs for a net loss of 5,300 jobs. The report was delayed by the 43-day federal government shutdown that ended Nov. 12.
New Jersey’s November unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points from September’s rate of 5.2%. The unemployment rate for October is unavailable because household survey data was not collected during the government shutdown.
New Jersey’s 5.4% unemployment rate for November is higher than the nationwide average of 4.6% for the same month. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release a breakdown of the November unemployment rates in all 50 states on Wednesday that will show how New Jersey’s jobless rate compares to other parts of the country.
In November, only three out of nine private industry sectors in New Jersey recorded job gains compared to October. Those sectors were private education and health services (+4,900), trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,800), and financial activities (+800).
Sectors that recorded job losses include professional and business services (-3,600), leisure and hospitality (-2,800), construction (-2,000), manufacturing (-800), and information (-100). Other services recorded no change over the month. The public sector recorded a gain of 100 jobs in November.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey private sector employment increased by 18,800 jobs. Four out of nine private industry sectors recorded a gain, including private education and health services (+28,200), professional and business services (+12,200), manufacturing (+700), and financial activities (+100).
However, job losses were recorded year-over-year in construction (-12,500); trade, transportation, and utilities (-3,200); information (-3,000); other services (-2,100); and leisure and hospitality (-1,500).
The public sector has recorded a gain of 1,800 jobs over the past 12 months.
The latest report also downwardly revised the previously released preliminary estimates for September employment by 500 jobs, resulting in a revised August to September gain of 10,400 jobs.
Compared to November 2024 when the state unemployment rate was 4.6%, the state’s jobless rate has increased by 0.8 percentage points over a 12-month period to 5.4%.
