TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey added 5,600 nonfarm jobs in April while the state’s unemployment rate declined to 4.8%, according to preliminary labor market estimates released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The seasonally adjusted employment level reached 4,384,500 nonfarm jobs during the month, state officials said.
The unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point from March, when it stood at 4.9%.
State officials also revised March employment figures downward, showing a gain of 3,100 jobs instead of the previously reported 5,800.
Five of New Jersey’s nine private industry sectors posted employment gains in April.
The largest increase came in professional and business services, which added 5,900 jobs. Other sectors posting gains included private education and health services, up 2,600 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities, up 1,100 jobs; manufacturing, up 900 jobs; and other services, up 500 jobs.
Job losses were recorded in leisure and hospitality, which lost 3,300 jobs, followed by construction, down 1,500 jobs; information, down 600 jobs; and financial activities, down 100 jobs.
The public sector added 100 jobs during the month, according to the report.
Compared with April 2025, New Jersey’s private sector added 8,500 jobs overall.
Private education and health services recorded the largest annual gain with 29,800 additional jobs, followed by professional and business services, which added 3,700 jobs.
Several industries experienced year-over-year declines, including trade, transportation and utilities, down 6,100 jobs; construction, down 4,900 jobs; manufacturing and leisure and hospitality, each down 4,400 jobs; financial activities, down 2,300 jobs; other services, down 1,700 jobs; and information, down 1,100 jobs.
The public sector lost 4,800 jobs over the past year, officials said.
Preliminary labor market estimates for May are scheduled to be released June 18.
