TRENTON, July 20, 2017 -- Total employment in New Jersey increased by 10,600 jobs in June, according to preliminary estimates released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as the state’s unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent, below the national rate of 4.4 percent. 

The increase in employment brings the total number of private sector jobs gained in the Garden State to 314,100 since the February 2010 low point for private sector employment during the most recent recession. The majority of the employment gains in June occurred in the private sector (+10,200), as total nonfarm wage and salary employment expanded to a seasonally adjusted level of 4,118,200. 

The long-term data shows New Jersey’s private-sector employers have added 51,900 jobs over the past year (June 2016 – June 2017). 

More complete reporting from employers has also adjusted the previously released May estimates higher by 4,000, to show an over-the-month (April-May) preliminary total nonfarm employment contraction of 9,100, instead of 13,100. 

In June, job gains were widespread with seven of nine major private industry sectors posting increases. Sectors that increased included construction (+4,200), other services (+2,200), trade, transportation and utilities (+1,900), professional and business services (+1,200), manufacturing (+1,000), financial activities (+1,000), and information (+600). Two sectors recorded losses: leisure and hospitality (-1,500) and education and health services (-400). Over the month, public-sector employment was higher by 400 jobs. 

PRESS 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 approximately 5,000 business establishments conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 more complete data from all New Jersey employers. 

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