TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) reported an increase in unemployment insurance claims for the week ending Nov. 1, 2025, as the ongoing federal government shutdown continues to impact workers.
According to NJDOL, initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits totaled 9,678, up 10.4 percent from the previous week’s total of 8,767. The number was nearly identical to the 9,664 claims filed during the same week last year.
Continued claims, which represent the number of weeks benefits were claimed by individuals already approved for unemployment, reached 89,846, a 0.5 percent decrease from the prior week and 1.6 percent lower than the same week last year.
Due to the federal shutdown, the U.S. Department of Labor has been unable to release its regular national economic data. In response, NJDOL said it is using internal administrative data “to maintain continuity in public reporting and assist with timely labor market insights.”
“This release represents the Department’s commitment to transparency and informed decision-making,” NJDOL said in a statement.
The department noted that the data does not include federal employees who have applied for unemployment benefits due to recent furloughs. Since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, NJDOL has received more than 1,900 claims from affected federal employees and non-federal workers impacted by the work stoppage.
Federal employees seeking unemployment information can visit MyUnemployment.nj.gov/federal, while additional career resources are available at MyCareer.nj.gov.
