There is a bit of good news in the latest jobs data for New Jersey. Preliminary nonfarm employment labor market estimates for March, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicate that New Jersey payrolls increased by 5,800 over the month, resulting in a seasonally adjusted employment level of 4,381,600 jobs.

Between February and March, the state’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage point to 4.9%, the lowest level since January 2025.

Employment estimates for February were revised upward by 2,100 to show a January to February loss of 8,200 nonfarm jobs (the preliminary estimate showed a decline of 10,300 nonfarm jobs). The state’s unemployment rate for February was unchanged at 5.1%. As of March 2026, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3%, unchanged from February.

Over the past month, six out of nine private industry sectors recorded employment gains in New Jersey. Those sectors were professional and business services (+3,300), private education and health services (+3,200), leisure and hospitality (+1,100), construction (+800), information (+800), and trade, transportation, and utilities (+700).

Sectors that recorded job losses include other services (-1,900), financial activities (-1,400), and manufacturing (-400). The public sector recorded a loss of 300 jobs for the month.

Over the year, the state’s private sector added 9,300 jobs. Three out of nine private industry sectors recorded gains, including education and health services (+30,100), leisure and hospitality (+1,000), and information (+100).

Losses were recorded year-over-year in trade, transportation, and utilities (-6,400), manufacturing (-4,900), construction (-3,600), financial activities (-3,000), professional and business services (-2,100), and other services (-1,900). The public sector recorded a loss of 5,300 jobs.

Preliminary BLS estimates data for April will be released on May 21st.