State employers added 3,300 private sector jobs

TRENTON — New Jersey private sector employers added 3,300 jobs in September, according to preliminary estimates from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, while employment growth in August was significantly higher than reported last month.
Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released estimates for August were revised up by 1,500 private sector jobs to show an over-the-month total nonfarm employment gain of 3,700 jobs. Private sector employers have added 54,200 jobs over the past year.
New Jersey has added 279,400 private sector jobs since February 2010, the recessionary low point for private sector employment in the state. New Jersey’s labor force participation rate, which measures the number of people employed or actively seeking work, continued to best the national rate in September, 63.9 percent to 62.9 percent, while the unemployment rate remained at 5.3 percent for September.
“This is a positive payroll employment report. Preliminary August employment increases were revised upwards by 1,500 and, in September, the private sector added 3,300 more jobs,” said James Wooster, Chief Economist for the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. “In the 12-month period ending September, the Garden State’s private sector employers added 54,200 new jobs. We’re encouraged by the positive employment trends and confident that as employment opportunities continue to grow, so too will people’s wages.”
Industries that experienced employment gains in September included professional and business services (+8,800), education and health services (+4,500), manufacturing (+1,600), trade, transportation and utilities (+800), and information (+700). Sectors that experienced contraction were leisure and hospitality (-8,100), other services (-4,100), construction (-600), and financial activities (-400).
The public sector recorded a loss of 600 jobs.