NEW JERSEY – Preliminary estimates produced by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that total non-farm wage and salary employment in New Jersey increased by 14,600 in July, to a seasonally adjusted level of 3,954,100 This is the seventh consecutive month of growth in the state’s total non-farm employment level.

The gains were concentrated in the private sector (+21,100) of the state economy. New Jersey has now recovered 441,700 jobs, or about 62% of the number lost in March and April 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and the measures taken to respond to it. The state’s unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 7.3 percent in July. (See the technical notes at the end of this release for more information on the impact of the coronavirus on this month’s employment estimates.)

Based on more comprehensive employer reports, previously released non-farm total employment estimates for June have been revised upward to show an increase over the month (May – June) of 20,500 jobs. Preliminary estimates had indicated a gain during the month of 16,600 jobs. The state’s unemployment rate in June was revised down 0.1 percentage point to 7.2%.

In July, employment increases were recorded in seven of the nine largest private sectors. The sectors that recorded employment gains were professional and business services (+6,900), trade, transport and utilities (+6,100), construction (+4,000), other services ( +2,100), leisure and hospitality (+1,300), manufacturing (+ 1,100), and education and health care (+400). Sectors that recorded job losses include financial activities (-700) and information (-100). During the month, public sector employment fell by 6,500 positions, mostly at the local level (-7,100), due to weaker than expected seasonal employment outside of education.

Preliminary BLS data for August 2021 will be released on September 16, 2021.