TRENTON, March 25, 2009 – Employment in New Jersey was down sharply in February, the 13^th consecutive monthly decline. The state unemployment rate moved above the national rate for the first time since October 2006. The New Jersey unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage point from January’s 7.3 percent to 8.2 percent in February, just above the U.S. rate of 8.1 percent.

According to preliminary estimates from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s monthly survey of employers, nonfarm wage and salary employment in the Garden State decreased by 19,700 jobs in February to a total of 3,968,100.  Job contraction occurred in both the private (-19,200) and public sectors (-500) of the state’s economy. Based on more complete reporting, the previously released January estimate was revised lower by 3,800 to reflect an adjusted December-to-January loss of 12,700.

“The troubled national economy continues to pose difficulties for many states including New Jersey,” said state Labor Commissioner David J. Socolow. “Through our unemployment insurance and workforce development programs we are doing all that we can to assist workers who have lost their jobs; and through the Governor’s Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan and the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act we are working to get New Jersey’s economy growing again.”

The economic fallout from the national recession on New Jersey’s job market has accelerated in 2009, with the loss of over 30,000 jobs over the first two months of the year. Job loss in February was widespread, as declines were recorded in eight of ten supersectors. The largest contractions occurred in professional and business services (-10,000), manufacturing (-5,200), construction (-3,300) and financial activities (-1,700). February losses in these industry supersectors are continuations of downward trends that are following the ongoing national recession which began in December 2007.

The only area of significant job growth was in education and health services, which added 3,600 jobs in February. Employment in this industry sector has continued to add jobs (+13,600 over the year), running counter to recessionary declines recorded in every other industry sector. The only other sector to add jobs in February was trade, transportation and utilities, which advanced by 600.

Over the month, the unadjusted workweek for manufacturing workers increased by 0.2 hours to 41.4 hours, average hourly earnings increased by $0.20 to $18.59 and weekly earnings were increased by $11.96 to $769.63.  Compared with February of last year, the unadjusted workweek was decreased by -0.3 hours, average hourly earnings increased by $0.70 and weekly earnings were higher by $23.62.

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