The unemployment rate in New Jersey has increased four consecutive months straight to 9.8 percent, the highest since April 1977. This data has been released by the state Department of Labor. The jobless rate reached an astounding 9.9 35 years ago, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to preliminary numbers, the July unemployment rate was up from 9.6 percent in June and 9.4 percent in June 2011. This figure is quite high considering the national unemployment rate is 8.3 percent, reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Preliminary data revealed that private sector employees added 79,000 jobs since February 2010. However, 12,000 jobs have been lost. Despite this the state noted the “long-term employment trend continues to be positive.”
The Democrats criticized Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, who proclaimed New Jersey would be making a “comeback.”
“There is no way to interpret this other than bad,” said New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Democrat, in a statement. “What I want to see is this administration admit it is failing in terms of getting people back to work.”
Sweeney wants Christie’s administration to “get out of the way or come up with an actual idea” to help the state’s recovery from the recession.”
“The national economy has been sluggish and, realistically, we can’t be exempt,” New Jersey’s chief economist, Charles Steindel said in a statement on Thursday. “Given the national softness and the strength of our job gains in May and June some fallback was likely.”
