How many jobs were added in New Jersey last month?
Refreshed monthly
New Jersey gained 2,200 jobs in May 2026, ranking it 24th 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 6,600 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+2.2K
month to month change in number of jobs (May 2026)
24th
rank among states in monthly job growth (May 2026)
May 2026's gain of 2,200 jobs was the 3rd consecutive month of positive job growth in New Jersey. Monthly job growth was down from the 7,100 new jobs in April 2026.
During the latest five year period (June 2021 to May 2026), New Jersey gained jobs in 46 out of 60 months. May 2026 had the 22nd-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+58,300) while job growth was weakest in April 2023 (-15,100).
There were 2,200 more jobs in May 2026 in New Jersey than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, June 2021–May 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which New Jersey sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in May 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in May 2026 were arts, entertainment, and recreation, health care and social assistance, and construction. Arts, entertainment, and recreation added 2,400 jobs, more than the entire economy. Health care and social assistance gained 1,200 jobs, while construction added 600 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 1,200 jobs during May 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in New Jersey (May 2026)
How does New Jersey's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?
In 2025, New Jersey gained an average of 425 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 2,700, and the lowest since 2024. 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 May 2026 ranged from a gain of 0 jobs in the Trenton, NJ area to a gain of 400 jobs in the Atlantic City, NJ 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. | +17,300 | |
| 2. | +800 | |
| 3. | +400 | |
| 4. | +200 | |
| 5. | +0 | |
| 6. | -100 |
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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.
