New Jersey bucked the national employment trend in May by adding 500 private-sector jobs, according to preliminary data released June 18 by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development.  The gain represents very slow job growth, but is a positive development considering that the nation as a whole lost jobs in May.

“For a number of years now, New Jersey has lagged behind the nation in job creation, creating jobs at a slower rate during the expansion, and losing them at a faster rate than the nation when the economy slowed,” NJBIA President Philip Kirschner said.  "The fact that New Jersey was able to gain jobs while the nation as a whole was shedding them is encouraging.  Let’s hope it develops into a trend."

May’s job gains came in part from the professional and business services sector (+1,200), education and health services (+500), trade and transportation services (+400) and construction (+400). The gain in construction is the first time this year that this sector has added jobs.  The manufacturing sector lost 1,700 jobs in May and the financial activities sector lost 600 jobs. 

With revised April employment figures, New Jersey has lost 10,300 jobs since December 2007.  And the State’s private-sector employment totaled 3,423,500, which is 6,500 fewer jobs than New Jersey’s peak employment of 3,430,000 in December, 2000.