N.J. Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Employment in the Garden State was up sharply in November with a monthly gain of 10,400 private sector jobs. The state’s unemployment rate was unchanged over the month at 9.1 percent, as more New Jersey residents returned to the labor force.

Preliminary estimates indicate that total nonfarm wage and salary employment in New Jersey increased by 10,300 jobs in November to a seasonally adjusted 3,881,000, as measured by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through its monthly employer survey. Private sector employment increased by 10,400, while public sector employment edged lower by 100 over the month. Since January of this year, New Jersey private sector employers have added 51,700 jobs.

“November's brisk pace of hiring shows that New Jersey's employers have shaken off the effects of the unusual weather of the past few months and anticipate increased consumer spending,” said Charles Steindel, Chief Economist for the New Jersey Department of Treasury. “It is also a positive sign for the state’s economy that October’s previously announced employment gains have been revised upward, and that more residents are actively seeking employment.”

Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released October estimates were shown to have been even better than first reported. The estimate of total employment in October was revised higher, up by 2,000 jobs, to show an over-the-month (September-October) total nonfarm employment gain of 4,500 jobs. Preliminary estimates indicated an over-the-month gain of 2,500. The revised October employment figures show an increase of 6,700 private sector jobs and a reduction of 2,200 public sector jobs.

In November, private sector job gains were posted in five of ten industry sectors; four recorded a loss while one was unchanged. Industries that recorded significant gains included trade, transportation and utilities (+9,900), financial activities (+1,700), and leisure and hospitality (+1,700).  Employment in trade, transportation and utilities was higher due to more than seasonally expected hiring in the retail trade (+7,800) component as retailers increased staffing for the holiday shopping season. Smaller gains were recorded in professional and business services (+800) and information (+400).

Job losses occurred in education and health services (-1,700), manufacturing (-1,400), other services (-800) and construction (-200). The decline in education and health services was due to a loss in the health care and social assistance segment, while the drop in manufacturing was recorded in both the durable (-800) and nondurable (-600) components. Over the month, public sector employment was lower by 100 with reductions at the state (-900) and federal (-400) government levels offset by a gain of 1,200 in local government.

Over the month, the unadjusted workweek for production workers decreased 0.2 hour to 41.2 hours, average hourly earnings were higher by $0.10 to $18.89 and weekly earnings increased by $0.36 to $778.27. Compared to November of last year, the unadjusted workweek increased by 0.7 hour, average hourly earnings increased by $0.03 and weekly earnings were higher by $14.44.

Press Release Tables

Technical Notes: Estimates of industry employment and unemployment levels are arrived at through the use of two different monthly surveys.

Industry employment data are derived through the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, a monthly survey of business establishments conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the US Department of Labor, which provides estimates of employment, hours, and earnings data broken down by industry for the nation as a whole, all states, and most major metropolitan areas (often referred to as the “establishment” survey).

Resident employment and unemployment data are mainly derived from the New Jersey portion of the national Current Population Survey (CPS), a household survey conducted each month by the US Census Bureau under contract with BLS, which provides input to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program (often referred to as the “household” survey).

Both industry and household estimates are revised each month based on additional information from updated survey reports compiled by BLS.  In addition, these estimates are benchmarked (revised) annually based on actual counts from New Jersey’s Unemployment Compensation Law administrative records and other data.