New Jersey employment in June exceeds pre-pandemic levels; unemployment rate steady at 3.9%

New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development?figures for June show a steady increase in its stretch of job growth, according to data released Thursday by the?U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Over the first six months of the year, New Jersey employers have added 96,000 jobs, for an average monthly gain of 16,000.

The state’s unemployment rate remained at 3.9% in June.

Total nonfarm employment increased by 9,800 jobs in June, to reach a seasonally adjusted level of 4,212,800.

The state has now recovered 717,000 nonfarm jobs, or about 98% of the number lost in early 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. However, June’s private-sector employment (3,629,900) now exceeds the pre-pandemic level recorded in February 2020 (3,621,300) by 8,600 jobs.

In June, employment increases were recorded in five out of nine major private industry sectors. Sectors that recorded employment increases were leisure and hospitality (+7,600); trade, transportation, and utilities (+4,200); education and health services (+3,800); manufacturing (+1,600); and other services (+400).

Sectors that recorded decreases were financial activities (-2,700); professional and business services (-2,600); construction (-2,200); and information (-500).

Over the month, public-sector employment increased by 200 jobs.