“New Jersey's labor market is clearly getting healthier, with continuing gains in employment and jobs, and the unemployment rate on a downtrend.  In May, for the second time in the last three months, we have seen noticeably faster job growth than the nation as a whole,” said Charles Steindel, Chief Economist for the New Jersey Department of Treasury. “This report shows both a large overall increase in jobs and gains in most industries, showing the growing depth of the state's recovery.  In particular, construction employment seems to be moving up, possibly reflecting both Sandy rebuilding and the general recovery in housing.”

In May, private sector job gains were posted in seven of nine major industry sectors in New Jersey. Industries with significant job growth included: professional and business services (+5,500), education and health services (+4,500), trade, transportation, and utilities (+4,200), and construction (+1,500).

Gains also were recorded in leisure and hospitality (+400), other services (+300), and information (100). Job contraction occurred in manufacturing (-900) and financial activities (-200). Public sector employment in May was down by 1,100. Gains at the local (+2,600) and federal (+100) government levels were offset by a decrease in state government (-3,800).

Preliminary estimates indicate that total nonfarm wage and salary employment in New Jersey increased sharply in May, up by 14,300 jobs, to a seasonally adjusted 3,962,200, as measured by the BLS through its monthly employer survey.

Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released April estimates were revised lower, down by 2,400, to show an over-the-month (March – April) total nonfarm employment gain of 900 jobs. Preliminary estimates had initially indicated an over-the-month gain of 3,300 jobs.

Over the month, the unadjusted workweek for production workers increased 1.0 hours to 41.2 hours, average hourly earnings were lower by $0.18 to $18.92 and weekly earnings rose by $11.68 to $779.50. Compared to May of last year, the unadjusted workweek decreased by 0.2 hours, average hourly earnings decreased by $0.38, and weekly earnings were lower by $19.52.

 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.