New Jersey Adds 4,900 Jobs and….. Unemployment Rises to 5.0%

According to the NJDOL the state added 4,900 jobs in August but the recovery trend remains slow and still lags behind the rest of the country.

New Jersey’s unemployment rate went up to 5.0%, while the national rate is at 4.3%, a slight change from July’s 4.2%.

Our last article on the state’s employment trajectory pointed to labor force participation and job creation rates that were below the national average, and this recent snapshot confirms the pattern, steady job growth but weaker momentum.

To add to the not-so-great news, July’s preliminary gain of 7,500 jobs was revised downward to 6,400.

Within the 21st, trends are similar to whats going on statewide.

Professional and business services, a major employment sector in the district (Murray Hill, Route 22, and downtown Summit), continued to shrink.

Education and Health Services, anchored by Overlook Medical Center, local school districts, and private education employers, remained the most stable job source.

Winners

Education and Health Services (+3,700)

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,400)

Leisure and Hospitality (+1,700)

Losers

Professional and Business Services (–2,800)

Construction (–1,600)

Manufacturing (–700)

While the added jobs might sound nice, rising unemployment and a drop in higher-wage positions are stress testing middle and working class families.

Reference: https://www.nj.gov/labor/lwdhome/press/2025/20250918_August_Jobs.shtml

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