Although New Jersey’s unemployment rate increased in June to 3.7%, the state’s labor market remained steady with a gain of 600 jobs, all in the private sector. According to preliminary estimates by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 of 9 private sectors recorded job growth in June. The labor force participation rate rose to 65.4%, the highest since March 2013. And the employment population ratio reached the highest it’s been since September 2008 at 63%. 

Eight out of nine private-sector industries saw job gains in June. These included education and health services (+200), leisure and hospitality (+1,700), information (+400) and other services (+200). Job losses were recorded in professional and business services (-1,600), financial activities (-700), manufacturing (-600), trade, transportation and utilities (-500), and construction (-300). There was no net change in public-sector employment.