The state’s jobless rate remained at 4.6% in June for the second month in a row, as total nonfarm employment fell by 1,200 jobs in June, state labor officials announced Thursday.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data also revised downward its preliminary data for May to show job gains of 12,300 instead of the previously reported 16,500. The loss of 1,200 jobs in June brings New Jersey’s seasonally adjusted total to 4,388,300 jobs.
New Jersey’s 4.6% unemployment rate in June was 0.5 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate of 4.1% for the same month.
Three out of nine private industries in New Jersey recorded employment gains in June. These sectors include professional and business services (+500), education and health services (+300), and trade, transportation, and utilities (+300).
Sectors that recorded employment losses include leisure and hospitality (‑2,100), financial activities (‑1,200), manufacturing (‑300), other services (‑300), and information (‑100). The construction sector was unchanged. Public sector jobs increased by 1,700 in June.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey has added 58,300 nonfarm jobs. About 80% of those gains were in the private sector, with six out of nine private sector industries recording a gain between June 2023 and June 2024.
Sectors showing an overall gain compared to June 2023 include private education and health services (+34,600); trade, transportation, and utilities (+7,800); other services (+4,000); construction (+3,100); professional and business services (+2,700); and leisure and hospitality (+1,800). The public sector recorded a gain of 11,500 jobs over the past 12 months.
Year-over-year losses were recorded in manufacturing (‑2,600), information (‑2,500), and financial activities (‑2,100).
