New Jersey recorded a 5.4% unemployment rate in December, making it the second highest among all U.S. states, according to federal data released Tuesday. Only California had a higher rate at 5.5%. The national unemployment rate for December stood at 4.4%.
Hawaii and South Dakota reported the lowest unemployment rates at 2.2%, followed by North Dakota and Vermont at 2.6%, and Alabama at 2.7%. Other states with high unemployment included Oregon, Nevada, and Delaware, each with a rate of 5.2%. The District of Columbia posted the highest jobless rate nationwide at 6.7%, after losing 34,000 jobs since December 2024.
Nonfarm payroll employment was largely unchanged across the country between November and December.
Over the past year, eight states saw an increase in payroll employment while numbers remained steady in forty-two states. Texas led with the largest annual job gain of 132,000 positions, followed by North Carolina (80,700), Pennsylvania (76,600), New York (73,900), and Missouri (52,800). New Jersey experienced a net increase of 9,000 nonfarm payroll jobs over twelve months.
Some states faced significant year-over-year job losses: Maryland lost 12,400 jobs; Washington lost 12,200; Virginia lost 11,700; California lost 11,200; and Nevada lost 9,000.
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association is recognized as the largest statewide employer organization in the United States. Founded in February 1910 as the New Jersey Manufacturers Association before broadening its membership in the mid-1970s, it represents employers from various sectors including manufacturing and services throughout New Jersey. Headquartered in Trenton at 10 West Lafayette Street and led by President and CEO Michele Siekerka,the association supports business prosperity through advocacy efforts and partnerships with government entities and academic institutions.
