New Jersey added 7,700 new jobs in September, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Of those new jobs, 6,200 were added in the private sector. Even so, the unemployment rate increased by 0.2% to now stand at 4.4%. 

Industries in the private sector that recorded losses were construction (-1,600), professional and business services (-800), information (-800) and financial activities (-200). Meanwhile, education and health services (+7,600), other services (+1,100) and manufacturing (+900) recorded gains in jobs.