NEW JERSEY – Preliminary labor market estimates for May, produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicated continued stability in New Jersey’s labor market.
Total nonfarm employment for May was estimated at a seasonally adjusted level of 4,394,500 jobs, the same level as it was in April. The state’s unemployment rate also remained unchanged compared to April, at 4.8 percent.
April employment estimates were adjusted downward by 3,800 jobs, resulting in a March to April gain of 1,000 jobs. Preliminary April estimates initially indicated a gain of 4,800 jobs. The state’s unemployment rate for April remained unchanged at 4.8 percent.
In May, five out of nine private industries recorded employment gains compared to April. Those sectors were leisure and hospitality (+4,200), professional and business services (+900), manufacturing (+400), trade, transportation, and utilities (+300), and financial activities (+100). Sectors that recorded job losses include education and health services (-1,700), construction (-1,100), information (-900), and other services (-900). The public sector lost 1,300 jobs in May.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey has added 25,300 nonfarm jobs, with 82 percent of those gains in the private sector. Five out of nine private sector industries recorded a gain between May 2024 and May 2025. These include private education and health services (+35,000), other services (+1,500), financial activities (+1,400), and manufacturing (+500). Losses were recorded year-over-year in information (-5,000), construction (-4,600), trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,100), professional and business services (-3,200), and leisure and hospitality (-800). The public sector has recorded a gain of 4,600 jobs over the past 12 months.
Preliminary BLS estimates data for June 2025 will be released on July 17.
