Preliminary estimates calculated after Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey indicate that total nonfarm wage and salary employment in New Jersey contracted in November, down by 8,100 jobs, to a seasonally adjusted 3,894,800, as measured by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through its monthly employer survey. Lower employment levels were recorded in both the private (-3,700) and public (-4,400) sectors of the state’s economy.

“This is a remarkably good showing under the circumstances created by Sandy. It seems clear that the storm generated some job losses, particularly in leisure and hospitality, but the total loss for the state was fairly modest, and the unemployment rate continues to drift down. Moreover, the sharp upward revision in the October number shows us that once again that first reports of large losses can be exaggerated,” said Charles Steindel, Chief Economist for the New Jersey Department of Treasury.

Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released October estimates were revised higher, up by 10,700 jobs, to show an over-the-month (September – October) total nonfarm employment loss of 1,000 jobs. Preliminary estimates had initially indicated an over-the-month loss of 11,700 jobs.

The long-term employment trend remains positive. New Jersey’s private sector employers have added 20,200 jobs over the past year (November 2011 – November 2012). Since February 2010, the low point of private sector employment during the recession, private sector employment has increased by 74,800 jobs.

In November, private sector job gains were posted in four of ten industry sectors; five recorded a loss while one was unchanged. Industries that registered larger gains included professional and business services (+8,300), and trade, transportation and utilities (+3,300). Smaller gains were posted in information (+300) and manufacturing (+200).

Losses occurred in leisure and hospitality (-6,900), education and health services (-5,400), and other services (-3,000). Sectors with lesser decreases included construction (-400) and mining and logging (-100). In November, public sector employment was lower by 4,400 due mostly to contracting payrolls at the local (-3,800) government levels.

Over the month, the unadjusted workweek for production workers increased by 1.1 hours to 42.8 hours, average hourly earnings were lower by $0.25 to $18.75 and weekly earnings rose by $10.20 to $802.50. Compared to November of last year, the unadjusted workweek increased by 1.6 hours, average hourly earnings decreased by $0.20, and weekly earnings were higher by $21.76.

Press Release Tables 

Technical Notes: Estimates of industry employment and unemployment levels are arrived at through the use of two different monthly surveys.

Industry employment data are derived through the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, a monthly survey of business establishments conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the US Department of Labor, which provides estimates of employment, hours, and earnings data broken down by industry for the nation as a whole, all states, and most major metropolitan areas (often referred to as the “establishment” survey).

Resident employment and unemployment data are mainly derived from the New Jersey portion of the national Current Population Survey (CPS), a household survey conducted each month by the US Census Bureau under contract with BLS, which provides input to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program (often referred to as the “household” survey).

Both industry and household estimates are revised each month based on additional information from updated survey reports compiled by BLS. In addition, these estimates are benchmarked (revised) annually based on actual counts from New Jersey’s Unemployment Compensation Law administrative records and other data.