For the first time in seven months, nonfarm employment has decreased in New Jersey. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a decrease by 5,300 jobs in February to reach a seasonally adjusted level of 4,370,700. The unemployment rate stayed steady at 4.8% for the sixth straight month; the national unemployment rate is 3.9%.

In February, 5 of 9 major private-industry job sectors recorded growth: private education and health services (+2,400), leisure and hospitality (+1,000), information (+500), financial activities (+200) and manufacturing (+100). The public sector recorded a seasonally adjusted gain of 700 jobs.