After losing 10,900 private-sector jobs in the first quarter, New Jersey claimed higher ground in April with a gain of 1,100 private-sector jobs, according to preliminary data released today by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The April increase, subject to revision next month, provides a bright spot for a state that has been struggling to create jobs.

In all of 2007, New Jersey added just 3,700 jobs in the private sector, making last year the weakest year for employment growth since 2003.  In 2006 and 2007, New Jersey ranked 41st among the 50 states in its rate of job growth, putting it well behind New York and Pennsylvania, its closest competitors.

"It’s good to see New Jersey moving in the right direction.  However, one month does not make a trend," said NJBIA President Philip Kirschner.  "The next couple of months will tell us if April was a one-month blip or the start of a period of renewed job growth."

In releasing its monthly employment report today, Labor Department officials revised its March data downward.  Preliminary data showed a gain of 300 private-sector jobs in March; but the revised data showed a loss of 100 jobs.  This, combined with losses of 8,300 private-sector jobs in January and 2,500 in February, left New Jersey with a net loss of 10,900 jobs in the private sector for the first three months of the year, according to the data released today.

While manufacturing and construction employment have lost ground or remained flat in each of the last four months, the larger services sector has rebounded.  The manufacturing sector has lost 2,600 jobs so far this year (-0.8 percent), and the construction sector has lost 2,900 jobs (-1.7 percent).  The services sector, after losing 8,500 jobs in January and February, added 4,100 in March and April, leaving it with a net loss for the year of 4,400 (-0.15 percent).

Private sector-employment totaled 3,424,000 in April, leaving New Jersey 6,000 jobs shy of the state’s last employment record of 3,430,000 private-sector jobs, which was set in December 2000, more than seven years ago.

The statewide unemployment rate rose to 5.0 percent in April, matching the national rate.