The 201 Billion Dollar Burden Explained…A Deep Dive into New Jersey’s Debt
New Jersey’s long-term debt hit $201.0 billion – steady from last year, according to the state’s 2024 Debt Report. That massive number includes everything from pension liabilities to bonds. Here’s a look at where that debt comes from — and why it matters. Bond Debt at $39.7 Billion $39.7 billion of the debt is bonded – money the state borrowed...
The ABCs of a Rule Change – How the DOL Could Upend Freelancing in New Jersey
New Jersey is considering a rule that could seriously limit how organizations — especially smaller ones — work with freelancers, part-time contributors, and even volunteers who receive an occasional stipend. The rule, proposed by the Department of Labor, is based on what’s known as the “ABC test,” a legal standard used to decide whether someone should be treated as an...
What 10 Years of Wage Data Tell Us About Living in New Jersey
Over the past decade, wages in New Jersey have gone up—but in many cases, not enough to keep pace with the rising cost of living. NJ21st looked at state and federal labor data to see how different industries have fared since 2013, adjusting for inflation using local cost-of-living data from the New York–Newark metro area. Some sectors did well. Others,...
From Social Services to Software: A Breakdown of NJ State Vendor Spending
New Jersey spent more than $3.1 billion on vendors during Fiscal Year 2024 — paying for everything from social services and environmental cleanup to consulting contracts and IT infrastructure. But who got paid, how much, and by which agency? Thanks to data published by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury available through NJ’s Open Data Portal, the public can...
From Gurugram to Somerset County – India Deepens Ties With New Jersey
New Jersey released its statewide Global Economic Index (GEI) in late May, which revealed that, for the second year in a row, India leads the field. Published by the NJ Economic Development Authority, the index focuses on foreign direct investment (FDI). FDI can include a company from abroad opening shop here—whether it’s a pharmaceutical firm setting up a lab in...
nj21st.com (with the exception of featured images and logo) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
