New Jersey gains 6,200 jobs in February, but January gains revised sharply downward

New Jersey’s total employment rose in February, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, but the unemployment rate ticked up to 6.4 percent.Private-sector employers added 6,800 jobs for the month, based on preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday, but the public sector lost 600 jobs during the same time period. The net result for the state was a gain of 6,200 jobs.

However, preliminary data can change radically, as New Jersey found out Thursday.

The state said January’s estimated gain of 12,400 jobs was sliced by more than half in the BLS’ revised figures — to a gain of only 5,600 total jobs.

In addition, the unemployment rate rose from January 6.3 percent mark to 6.4 percent in February.

New Jersey has posted eight straight months of job gains, though, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development pointed out.

In February, the trade, transportation and utilities sector led the way, adding 3,700 jobs. Leisure and hospitality, as well as construction, also topped the 2,000-job mark, gaining 2,600 and 2,100 positions, respectively.

On the down side, the financial activities sector lost 2,000 jobs.

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