How many jobs were lost in New Jersey last month?
Refreshed monthly
New Jersey lost 25,600 jobs in July 2026, ranking it last among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 5,100 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-25.6K
month to month change in number of jobs (July 2026)
50th
rank among states in monthly job growth (July 2026)
July 2026's loss of 25,600 jobs was the second consecutive month of negative job growth in New Jersey. Monthly job growth was down from the 4,200 lost jobs in June 2026.
During the latest five year period (August 2021 to July 2026), New Jersey gained jobs in 44 out of 60 months. July 2026 had the lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+58,300) while job growth was weakest in July 2026 (-25,600).
There were 25,600 fewer jobs in July 2026 in New Jersey than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, August 2021–July 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which New Jersey sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in July 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in July 2026 were transportation, warehousing, and utilities, health care and social assistance, and management of companies and enterprises. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities added 1,600 jobs, more than the entire economy. Health care and social assistance gained 1,400 jobs, while management of companies and enterprises added 800. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, arts, entertainment, and recreation, and private educational services. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 12,500 jobs in July 2026, while arts, entertainment, and recreation lost 4,200 jobs and private educational services lost 4,100 jobs.
Get weekly insights
Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 1,400 jobs during July 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in New Jersey (July 2026)
How has New Jersey's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, New Jersey gained an average of 425 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 2,733, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 14th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 9,400 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 5,700 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, New Jersey gained an average of 425 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among three metro areas primarily in New Jersey during July 2026 ranged from a loss of 3,800 jobs in the Atlantic City, NJ area to a gain of 100 jobs in the Vineland, NJ area metro area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within New Jersey
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +20,700 | |
| 2. | +500 | |
| 3. | +100 | |
| 4. | -100 | |
| 5. | -3,800 | |
| 6. | -5,600 |
Keep exploring
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
