New Jersey’s unemployment rate increased to 4.8% in April, marking the highest level in over three years, according to preliminary data from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This comes despite an addition of 4,800 jobs during the month.
The state’s total nonfarm employment rose by 4,800 jobs to a seasonally adjusted figure of 4,398,300. Approximately 75% of these job gains were in the private sector. Over the past year ending in April, private sector employers have added 27,400 jobs while the unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points.
Revisions from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that New Jersey’s March employment estimates were adjusted downward by 3,000 jobs; however, the unemployment rate for March remained steady at 4.7%.
In April, five out of nine private industries experienced job growth compared to March: education and health services (+7,100), financial activities (+1,600), manufacturing (+900), information (+300), and other services (+200). Conversely, sectors such as leisure and hospitality (-2,800), professional and business services (-1,900), trade, transportation and utilities (-1,100), and construction (-800) saw declines. The public sector gained 1,200 jobs during this period.
Over a one-year span from April 2024 to April 2025, New Jersey added a total of 36,000 nonfarm jobs with private sector gains accounting for approximately 76%. Notable increases occurred in private education and health services (+41,300), other services (+2,500), financial activities (+1,700), and manufacturing (+700).
Year-over-year losses were observed in leisure and hospitality (-4,800), information (-4,400), professional and business services (-3,900), construction (-3,300), and trade transportation and utilities (-2,400). The public sector recorded an increase of 8,600 jobs over the same period.
The national unemployment rate for April stood at 4.2%, which is lower than New Jersey’s rate by 0.6 percentage points.
