Over the next few days, we’re learning about the health of the labor market heading into the new year. Businesses are expected to report that they’ve created hundreds of thousands of new jobs, while at the same time workers continue to leave their jobs in droves. Tuesday, a U.S. Labor Department report showed 4.5 million workers walked off the job in November. And that’s a new record for the so-called Great Resignation. The industries that saw the biggest loss of employees: restaurants and health care. Meantime, both New Jersey-based ADP and the U.S. government are expected this week to report healthy levels of job creation in December. We continue to see far more open jobs than there are bodies to fill them.
Newark-area business leaders say they’re concerned about staffing issues continuing into this year. That’s according to Barbara E. Kauffman, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Newark Regional Business Partnership.
As business leaders grapple with that, they still expressed optimism about 2022. They expect another big problem — supply-chain bottlenecks — will start to lessen this year. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is seeking public input on a list of 50 communities that have been identified as food deserts. New Jersey has committed a total of $240 million in funding over the next six years in tax credits, loans and grants to increase assess to healthy foods in needy communities. For instance, funding could be provided to build new grocery stores. The list of 50 communities in need includes parts of Newark and Camden and dozens and dozens of other municipalities across the state. And the EDA is also seeking input ahead of its plan to launch the New Jersey Green Fund in the next few months. This fund would provide financing for projects designed to reduce emissions and accelerate clean-energy technologies.
