NJ employers add to payroll for 5th consecutive month in May
Unemployment rate is falling
June 17, 2021
Preliminary estimates produced by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics show that total non-farm wage and salary employment in New Jersey increased by 13,600 jobs in May to a seasonally adjusted level of 3,915,400 May marks the fifth consecutive month of job growth in the Garden State.
The gains were concentrated in the private sector (+12,600) of the state economy. New Jersey has now recovered 403,000 jobs, or about 56% 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 fell 0.3 percentage points in May to 7.2%.
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 estimates of total non-farm employment for April have been revised upwards to show an increase of 4,900 jobs in the month (March to April). Preliminary estimates had indicated a gain during the month of 3,900 jobs. April’s revised unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.5%.
In May, employment increases were recorded in seven of the nine largest private sectors. Sectors that recorded employment increases include leisure and hospitality (+6,200); trade, transport and public services (+3,000); education and health services (+2,500); professional and business services (+1,500); other services (+1000); manufacturing (+800); and information (+200). Declines in employment were recorded in the construction (-2,200) and financial activities (-400) sectors. During the month, public sector employment increased by 1,000 jobs.
It should be noted that the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions on New Jersey businesses occurred in late May, after the end of the investigation week, and as such, the impact of the reopening on employment levels should be more evident in next month’s reports.
Preliminary BLS data for June 2021 will be released on July 15.
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