newjerseynewsroom.com

Employment in New Jersey was up sharply in November with a gain of 10,400 private sector jobs, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday. The state’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.1 percent.

Preliminary estimates indicate that total nonfarm employment in New Jersey increased by 10,300 jobs in November. A total of 3,881,000 are working. Private sector employment increased by 10,400, while government and school employment decreased by 100 over the month. Since January, New Jersey private sector employers have added 51,700 jobs.

“November's brisk pace of hiring shows that New Jersey's employers have shaken off the effects of the unusual weather of the past few months and anticipate increased consumer spending,” state Chief Economist Charles Steindel said. “It is also a positive sign for the state’s economy that October’s previously announced employment gains have been revised upward, and that more residents are actively seeking employment.”

Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released October estimates were shown to have been even better than first reported, according to the Labor Department. The estimate of total employment in October was revised higher, up by 2,000 jobs, to show an over-the-month September to October gain of 4,500 jobs. The revised October figures show an increase of 6,700 private sector jobs and a reduction of 2,200 public sector jobs.

In November, private sector job gains were posted in five of ten industry sectors; four recorded a loss while one was unchanged. Industries that recorded significant gains included trade, transportation and utilities, 9,900, financial activities, 1,700, and leisure and hospitality, 1,700. Employment in trade, transportation and utilities was higher due to more than seasonally expected hiring in the retail trade 7,800 component as retailers increased staffing for the holiday shopping season. Smaller gains were recorded in professional and business services, 800 and information, 400.

Job losses occurred in education and health services, 1,700, manufacturing, 1,400, other services, 800 and construction, 200. The decline in education and health services was due to a loss in the health care and social assistance segment, while the drop in manufacturing was recorded in both the durable 800 and nondurable 600 components. Over the month, public sector employment was lower by 100 with reductions at the state 900and federal 400 government levels offset by a gain of 1,200 in local government.

Over the month, the unadjusted workweek for production workers decreased 0.2 hour to 41.2 hours, average hourly earnings were higher by $0.10 to $18.89 and weekly earnings increased by $0.36 to $778.27. Compared to November of last year, the unadjusted workweek increased by 0.7 hour, average hourly earnings increased by $0.03 and weekly earnings were higher by $14.44.

—TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM