State loses 7,400 jobs in June, though unemployment drops to near-seven-year low

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The latest report on New Jersey employment from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development was a mixed bag Thursday.On the one hand, the state unemployment rate fell 0.4 of a percentage point, to 6.1 percent, in June, marking the lowest rate since October 2008, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On the other hand, the state actually lost jobs for the month, with a contraction of 7,400 positions, ending 11 straight months of employment growth.

The state did remain above the 4 million job level, the department said in a news release, even though the private sector lost 5,700 jobs and the public sector lost 1,700 for the month.

The leisure and hospitality sector saw the biggest gain for the month, adding 2,000 jobs. The information industry added 1,900 and the manufacturing industry added 1,600, as well. On the other hand, construction contracted by 4,600 jobs and the education and health services industry lost 3,000. The professional and business services sector lost 2,700 jobs, too.

State government job contraction totaling 1,300 positions fueled the decline in public sector employment.

The state did not update May’s preliminary numbers, which had indicated a gain of 10,100 jobs for that month.

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