TRENTON, May 19, 2010 – Employment in New Jersey advanced in April, fueled by widespread hiring in the private sector. The state’s unemployment rate was unchanged in April at 9.8 percent and was below the national rate (9.9%) for the first time since November of last year.

According to preliminary estimates, total nonfarm wage and salary employment in New Jersey increased by 10,500 jobs in April to 3,858,500. The gain represents the largest monthly increase in over two years (January 2008, +5,500). Private sector employment advanced by 8,100 jobs while public sector payrolls increased by 2,400.

Based on more complete reporting, previously released March estimates were revised downward by 1,800 jobs to a total of 3,848,000, reflecting an over-the-month (February to March) loss of 4,900 jobs. Preliminary estimates had indicated an over-the-month loss of 3,100.

In April, job gains were realized in nearly all private sector industries. Sizeable increases occurred in the professional and business services (+3,700 jobs), manufacturing (+2,500), financial activities (+1,100) and leisure and hospitality (+1,100) supersectors. The gain in professional and business services was due to hiring in the administrative support/waste management/remediation segment which added 5,000 jobs. In manufacturing, small gains were scattered among companies in both the durable (+1,800) and nondurable (+700) components. Increased employment in the finance and insurance (+1,000) component accounted for the majority of the gain in financial activities, while the advance in leisure and hospitality was due to hiring in the accommodations and food services segment. Smaller gains were recorded in education and health services (+800), information (+600), trade transportation and utilities (+600), and mining and logging (+100). The only industry to register a decrease was construction, which saw employment fall by 2,400.

Public-sector employment was higher by 2,400 over the month boosted by hiring of temporary workers at the federal level (+2,100) to perform canvassing activities for Census 2010.

Over the month, the unadjusted workweek for manufacturing workers decreased by  -0.1 to 40.2 hours, average hourly earnings increased by $0.03 to $18.91 and weekly earnings were down by -$0.68 to $760.18. Compared with April of last year, the unadjusted workweek was lower by -0.4 hours, average hourly earnings increased by $0.30 and weekly earnings were higher by $4.61.

Press Release Tables 

Note: 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). Through a Federal-State cooperative endeavor, the employment security agency in each state analyzes and publishes industry employment data reports detailing the CES data compiled by BLS, using concepts, definitions, and technical procedures prescribed by BLS.

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). Through a Federal-State cooperative endeavor, the employment security agency of each state analyzes and publishes reports detailing the LAUS data compiled by BLS using concepts, definitions, and technical procedures prescribed by BLS.

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 Insurance Compensation Law administrative records and other data.