rankings Archives

10 NJ companies make Bloomberg’s 2023 gender-equality index (updated)

Ten corporations headquartered in New Jersey were named to the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI).

Released Jan. 31, the GEI – which tracks the performance of public companies committed to transparency in gender-data reporting – measures gender equality across five pillars: female leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, anti-sexual harassment policies and pro-women brand.

Campbell Soup Co. Senior Vice President, Chief Culture Officer and Head of Talent Camille Pierce said the company is proud to be included in the index for a fifth consecutive year.

New Jersey companies
on the 2023 GEI:

American Water Works Co. Inc.
Utility | Camden
Becton Dickinson and Co.
Medical technology | Franklin Lakes
Campbell Soup Co.
Processed foods and snacks | Camden
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories
Pharmaceuticals | Princeton,
U.S. campus
Merck & Co. Inc.
Pharmaceuticals | Rahway
Novartis AG
Pharmaceuticals | East Hanover,
U.S. headquarters
Organon & Co.
Pharmaceuticals | Jersey City
Unilever PLC
Consumer goods | Englewood Cliffs, North American headquarters
TD Bank
National bank | Cherry Hill
Veris Residential Inc.
Real estate investment trust | Jersey City

“An inclusive and diverse organization where all employees feel safe, valued and supported to do their best work drives performance and engagement,” she said.

Becton Dickinson and Co., marking its fourth year in a row on the GEI, believes the continued inclusion is a testament to ongoing efforts “to develop and invest in our employees around the world,” according to BD Vice President, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Engagement Nicole Thompson.

“Our commitment to gender equality is embedded in our culture through the policies and resources we offer, empowering our employees to grow personally and professionally,” Thompson said. “We continue to make significant progress with the representation of female leaders in our workforce and talent pipelines, which has driven greater mobility within the organization and increased retention.”

Susan Hardwick, chief executive officer and president of American Water, which is celebrating its fifth consecutive appearance on the index, said the utility company “is proud to again be included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, recognizing our longstanding commitment to gender equality throughout our company. Inclusion, diversity and equity are vital elements to our success, and we continually strive to build a better workplace where our people reflect the communities we are privileged to serve.”

Altogether, this year’s index is comprised of 484 companies with a combined market capitalization of $16 trillion headquartered in 45 countries across 11 sectors and 54 industries, according to Bloomberg.

Patricia Torres, global head of Bloomberg Sustainable Finance Solutions, said, “The GEI continues to identify areas of impact for companies, helping to facilitate meaningful change that, ultimately, will contribute to more innovation, creativity, and higher performance.”

“We cannot underscore the importance of leadership enough when looking to improve gender equality in the workplace,” added Torres. “Change can only be driven when diversity and inclusion are part of executive performance metrics.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 5:08 p.m. ET to remove the a company that is not headquartered in New Jersey.

OpenTable ranks 4 NJ restaurants among the US’s most romantic

New Jersey is home to four of the most romantic restaurants in the nation, according to a new ranking from online reservation platform OpenTable.

Released just in time for Valentine’s Day, this year’s list of 100 establishments includes the following local spots:

618 – Freehold
Chart House Restaurant – Weehawken
Tisha’s – Cape May
Washington Inn – Cape May

Compiled annually, the ranking represents establishments from across the country, according to OpenTable.

This year’s list – which was developed based on reviews from 13 million diners – includes restaurants from 27 states. California led the list with 13 restaurants, followed by Arizona with nine restaurants and Florida and Hawaii with eight each.

While more than 20 different cuisines are spotlighted, diners equate romance with steakhouses (19% of the list), followed by seafood (18%), American (17%) and Italian (9%), OpenTable found.

More for food lovers

These are NJ’s top franchises, according to Entrepreneur Magazine

Of the 28 New Jersey-based franchises included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s ranking of the 500 fastest-growing ventures in the country, two businesses cracked the top 10.

Now in its 44th year, the annual list seeks to offer a snapshot of the ever-changing franchise marketplace, as well as a competitive measure for franchisors and a research tool for those interesting in franchising.

Topping the list for the third consecutive year was Taco Bell. Coming in just behind the Mexican-inspired restaurant chain for second place was Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, followed by Manasquan-based Jersey Mike’s Subs in third, the UPS Store in fourth and Dunkin’ as fifth.

Jersey Mike's and Asbury Park native Danny DeVito — Jersey Mike’s enlisted actor, comedian and Asbury Park native Danny DeVito for the “It’s a Jersey Mike’s Thing” ad campaign, which launched Sept. 12. – JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS

Rounding out the top 10 was: Rutherford-based Kumon Math & Reading Centers (No. 6), Ace Hardware (No. 7), Culver’s (No. 8), Hampton by Hilton (No. 9) and Wingstop (No. 10).

Over the past year, QSR brands continued to show strong growth, according to Entrepreneur. Of the top 500 franchises, 101 are quick service restaurants, compared with 97 last year. Additionally, six of the top 10 and 29 of the top 100 are quick-service brands.

For Jersey Mike’s Subs – which is up a slot from its No. 4 ranking in 2022 – the continued climb shows that the chain is making good on its promise to be “A Sub Above,” said Hoyt Jones, president, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems Inc.

“We send huge gratitude to our customers, franchise owners, and team members for making it possible. Having a strong team in place across the country helps us ensure quality and consistency at the store level. Overall, maintaining Jersey Mike’s company culture has helped us grow. We continue to be driven by the mission statement created by our founder and CEO Peter Cancro: Giving … making a difference in someone’s life,” he told NJBIZ.

This year, the subcategories of coffee, sandwiches, smoothie/juices and teas also moved up in the ranking. The magazine flagged health and wellness-related franchises as ones to watch as well, particularly ones in the subcategories of assisted stretching, eye care, CBD and chiropractic services.

Additionally, franchises in the maintenance category grew from 72 to 78, while pet franchises increased from eight to 12.

Entrepreneur Editor in Chief Jason Feifer said, “The past year underscores the extraordinary opportunities that the franchise industry presents for entrepreneurs of all levels. The companies named to our 44th annual Franchise 500 list represent some of the most innovative, creative, and trusted brands across many industries and highlight what it takes to build the kind of momentum that drives long-lasting success.”

For the Franchise 500, Entrepreneur said it evaluates factors including costs and fees, support, size and growth, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

To be eligible, a franchisor must be seeking new franchisees in the U.S. and Canada and must have had a minimum of 10 units open and operating as of July 31, 2022, with at least one franchise located in North America.

New Jersey’s Top Franchises

3. Jersey Mike’s Subs – Manasquan
6. Kumon Math & Reading Centers – Rutherford
75. La Quinta by Wyndham – Parsippany
79. Lawn Doctor – Holmdel
104. Huntington Learning Center – Oradell
114. Coldwell Banker Real Estate – Madison
118. Paris Baguette – Moonachie
125. Century 21 Real Estate – Madison
178. Travelodge by Wyndham – Parsippany
186. Super 8 by Wyndham – Parsippany
192. Lightbridge Academy – Iselin
232. Wyndham – Parsippany
237. ERA Real Estate – Madison
238. Bubbakoo’s Burritos – Wall Township
239. Corcoran – Madison
253. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service – Jersey City
297. Trademark Collection by Wyndham – Parsippany
300. Wingate by Wyndham – Parsippany
314. Weichert Real Estate Affiliates – Morris Plains
320. Baymont by Wyndham – Parsippany
325. Days Inn by Wyndham – Parsippany
329. AmericInn by Wyndham – Parsippany
344. Destination Athlete – Lebanon
408. Ramada by Wyndham – Parsippany
418 . The Vitamin Shoppe – Secaucus
443. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate – Madison
456. PrimoHoagies – Westville
500. Eye Level Learning Centers – Ridgefield Park

3 NJ companies rank among most profitable per second

No. 10 | Verizon Communications
Basking Ridge

Annual profit: $17.80 billion
Profit per second: $567
Profit per minute: $33,868
Profit per hour: $2.03 million
Profit per day: $48.77 million

No. 12 | Johnson & Johnson
New Brunswick

Annual profit: $14.71 billion
Profit per second: $467
Profit per minute: $27,995
Profit per hour: $1.68 million
Profit per day: $40.31 million

No. 33 | Merck & Co.
Rahway

Annual profit: $7.07 billion
Profit per second: $224
Profit per minute: $13,446
Profit per hour: $806,735
Profit per day: $19.36 million

When it comes to how much money the world’s biggest corporations make per second, three New Jersey-based businesses were among the most profitable, a recently released analysis found.

After examining annual profit figures for 50 of the best-known companies, fintech firm Tipalti ranked Verizon Communications in Basking Ridge as 10th, Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick as 12th and Merck & Co. in Rahway as 33rd.

The list of 2021’s most profitable companies – which Tipalti said is sourced from Fortune 500 – includes a breakdown of how much money each corporation pulled in by the amount generated per second, hour and day to give a sense of how enormous the profits really are.

Tech giant Apple Inc. took the top spot, making $6.5 million per hour, which equates to $1,820 per second.

“To put that into context, the average annual salary in the U.S. is $74,738 in 2021, or $1,433.33 per week, meaning that Apple makes $387 (27.01%) more per second than the average American worker makes in a whole week,” Tipalti noted.

Overall, tech companies were found to make the most, averaging $185 per second, more than $11,000 per minute and over $16 million each day. They were followed by telecommunications companies ($107 profit per second) and financial companies ($85 per second), according to Tipalti.

Healthgrades names 9 NJ hospitals as best in the US (updated)

Nine Garden State hospitals landed on Healthgrades’ newly released 2023 America’s Best Hospitals lists – with three also cracking the top 100 and two making it onto the top 50 rankings.

The Healthgrades lists, unveiled Jan. 17, recognize the national leaders in overall clinical care and the top-ranked hospitals for specialty care by state. These rankings represent the top 1%, 2% and 5% of hospitals in the U.S.

The hospital leaders in New Jersey, listed in alphabetical order, are:

America’s 50 Best Hospitals List

Morristown Medical Center, Morristown
Overlook Medical Center, Summit

America’s 100 Best Hospitals List

Morristown Medical Center, Morristown
Overlook Medical Center, Summit
Valley Hospital, Ridgewood

America’s 250 Best Hospitals List

Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston
Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center, Holmdel
Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune
Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack
Morristown Medical Center, Morristown
Overlook Medical Center, Summit
Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro
Valley Hospital, Ridgewood

“Healthgrades makes it easy for consumers to choose a doctor based on the three factors that matter most: compatibility, relevant experience, and the quality of the hospital where you’ll be treated,” Burt Kann, executive vice president and head of product at Healthgrades, said in a statement. “With these awards, we are helping consumers identify the highest quality care in their community by celebrating the hospitals that consistently deliver better-than-expected clinical outcomes.”

By the numbers

A recent Healthgrades survey found that 64% of consumers are more concerned with their health and wellness than they were before the pandemic. Additionally, 57% of respondents said they are now more concerned with the quality of health care they receive.

To determine the top 250 U.S. hospitals, Healthgrades used proprietary data to evaluate clinical performance for nearly 4,500 hospitals across more than 31 of the most common procedures and conditions. Additionally, the health care platform measured the hospitals across 18 specialty areas, including cardiac care, critical care, gastrointestinal care, joint replacement, neurosciences, orthopedic surgery, pulmonary care, stroke care, surgical care, and vascular surgery and more.

By the end of the year, Healthgrades said it will begin incorporating health equity data – including medical codes for social determinants of health (such as housing, food insecurity, transportation and interpersonal safety) and third-party data sets – into its methodology.

Kudos from the leaders

“We are honored to be recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades,” Audrey Meyers, president and CEO of Valley Health System, said in statement about Valley Hospital. “This prestigious award for clinical outcomes demonstrates the importance we place on delivering the highest-quality care and service to our patients and their families.”

Atlantic Health System also released a statement, commending its Morristown, Overlook and Chilton medical centers for the recognition. This is the first year Chilton made the list.

“The addition of Chilton Medical Center to Healthgrades’ lists of Best Hospitals, alongside consecutive recognition for Morristown Medical Center and Overlook Medical Center, reflects the commitment to high-quality care and safety central to the culture of Atlantic Health System,” said Scott Leighty, executive vice president, chief health system officer. “We are truly proud of how the talented team members and physicians are raising the level of care at each of our medical centers.”

RWJBarnabas Health lauded its recognized facilities, including Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, which made the Top 250. Two other facilities – Community Medical Center in Toms River and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset in Somerville – earned praise for their work in specialty areas.

“We are honored to be recognized by Healthgrades among the top hospitals in the state across a number of specialty care areas,” Dr. Andy Anderson, executive vice president, chief medical and quality officer at RWJBarnabas Health, said in a statement. “We are committed to providing the residents of New Jersey safe, high-quality comprehensive care, and these rankings are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff to enhance patient outcomes across our facilities.”

Robert Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, said about the provider’s three rankings: “This latest recognition from Healthgrades placing our hospitals among America’s 250 Best Hospitals is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team members who continue to strive for excellence in everything we do.

“As the healthcare industry continues to face ongoing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are incredibly grateful for our team members who tirelessly provide the outstanding care our patients have come to expect from us,” Garrett continued. “I would like to thank our health care heroes who helped us achieve this recognition.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 7:36 a.m. ET Jan. 18 to include the complete name of Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center. It was updated at 1:55 p.m. ET Jan. 19 to include a statement from Hackensack Meridian Health.

New Jersey companies named among America’s Most JUST

A trio of well-known Garden State businesses have been named among America’s Most JUST Companies in the country by JUST Capitol, which along with its media partner CNBC, released the annual JUST 100 list this week.

Named to the list were: Rahway-based Merck, ranked 26th overall and first among the pharmaceuticals and biotech industry; Newark-based Prudential Financial Inc., ranked 69th overall and third in its industry; and Newark-based PSEG, ranked 76th overall and fourth among utilities.

The annual list evaluates how the nation’s largest corporations perform on issues including support for workers, protecting customer privacy, minimizing pollution, and more.

In compiling the list, JUST Capitol collects and analyzes corporate data to evaluate the 1,000 largest public U.S. companies across 20 issues.

JUST Capitol CEO Martin Whittaker said this year’s JUST 100 leaders demonstrate that just business is truly better business.

“There has never been a more important time for businesses to step up, do right by their workers, and restore trust in capitalism and the American Dream,” said Whittaker.

Ralph LaRossa, PSEG President and CEO — LaRossa

PSEG’s ranking among utilities nationally has risen each year since 2018. PSEG was also ranked as the utility with the second-highest work/life balance among employees, as well as in the top 50 for communities and in the top 100 for workforce advancement.

PSEG Chair, President and CEO Ralph LaRossa said the company is committed to doing right by its customers, communities, workforce and shareholders.

“2022 was a challenging year for many, but we continued our focus on customer satisfaction, creating a culture where employees can succeed no matter their background, and on critical sustainability and efficiency efforts,” said LaRossa. “This recognition demonstrates what we can accomplish when we don’t waver from our values. PSEG is proud to be named one of America’s Most JUST Companies.”

Merck’s appearance on the list is its sixth consecutive and third-straight year ranking first in its sector. The company also ranked as the top company for communities and customers in its industry.

“We are honored to recognized as America’s Most JUST Company in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry for the third year in a row. This recognition demonstrates our company’s longstanding commitment to operating responsibly on behalf of society, shareholders to enable a safe, sustainable, and healthy future for patients and communities around the world,” said Robert Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck, in a statement.

This year marked Prudential’s third time cracking the list. It was ranked third in its industry for investing in workers, and 59th overall, in addition to fifth in the industry for supporting its community.

The full JUST 100 rankings can be found here.

Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies includes 17 NJ businesses

Seventeen companies from New Jersey are among the 500 businesses recognized by Newsweek for their focus on advancing environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) strategies.

Released Dec. 7, the publication’s 4th annual Most Responsible Companies list highlights U.S. companies across 14 industries that have made strides over the past year for their commitment to corporate social responsibility.

To create the compilation, Newsweek and Statista Inc., a leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, reviewed key performance indicators from a pool of 2,000 companies using metrics from publicly available corporate ESG reports as well as the results of an independent survey asking 13,000 Americans about their perception of companies.

Most Responsible Companies | New Jersey

4. Merck & Co – Kenilworth
Health Care & Life Sciences

28. Campbell Soup Co. – Camden
Consumer Goods

59. Zoetis – Parsippany
Health Care & Life Sciences

64. Public Service Enterprise Group – Newark
Energy & Utilities

94. American Water – Camden
Energy & Utilities

115. Becton Dickinson and Co. – Franklin Lakes
Health Care & Life Sciences

144. Church & Dwight – Ewing
Consumer Goods,

186. Organon & Co. – Jersey City
Health Care & Life Sciences

207. Prudential – Newark
Financial

215. Universal Display – Ewing
Technology/Hardware

262. Phibro Animal Health – Teaneck
Health Care & Life Sciences

289. Catalent – Somerset
Health Care & Life Sciences

388. Burlington – Burlington
Retail

398. Clearway Energy – Princeton
Energy & Utilities

433. Automatic Data Processing – Roseland
Software & Telecommunications

487. Avis Budget Group – Parsippany
Professional Services

496. New Jersey Resources – Wall Township
Energy & Utilities

Several companies in New Jersey have been included in the ranking before, making the latest recognition a sign they are heading in the right direction when it comes to their overall ESG strategies.

New Jersey Resources President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Westhoven said it is an honor to make the ranking for a fourth consecutive year.

“This recognition reflects our belief that sustainability and corporate citizenship are good for business, good for our customers and good for the future. New Jersey Resources is committed to advancing a clean energy future by embracing sustainable business practices that meet the energy needs of our customers, benefit the environment and strengthen the communities we serve,” he said.

Universal Display Corp. president and CEO Steven Abramson said, “We are pleased to be recognized for the third year among America’s most responsible companies. For more than two-and-a-half decades, we have focused on cultivating and fostering a global culture that promotes inclusion, inventiveness, integrity and imagination. We also endeavor to contribute to creating a sustainable and low-carbon future through our energy-efficient portfolio of OLED solutions.”

BD Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Tom Polen said receiving the award for a fourth consecutive year “recognizes our commitment to address the most relevant ESG issues to our business that make a lasting impact on our industry, society and planet today. The work we do today throughout our organization of 77,000 employees helps us operate more responsibly and sustainably, and positions us for a more resilient future.”

In a note accompanying the ranking, Newsweek Global Editor in Chief Nancy Cooper wrote, “Talking the talk is easy, but walking the walk is hard. We are proud to present this year’s ranking and to honor companies that actually mean it when they say they are serious about being good corporate citizens.”

Overall, computer hardware giant HP ranked No. 1, followed by consumer goods giants General Mills and Whirlpool Corp.

According to Newsweek, the largest number of companies included on the list (55) are in the materials and chemicals industry, while the fewest (12) are hospitality-related businesses, such as hotels, dining and leisure.

NJ hospitals earn high marks on U.S. News’ best for maternity care

For its latest roundup of the best performing hospitals in the nation, U.S. News & World Report is zeroing in on services provided to mothers and families during one of their most important milestones.

Released Dec. 6, the 2022-2023 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list features 19 facilities from the Garden State that earned the High Performing designation — the highest accolade a facility can receive from the publication for maternity care.

U.S. News evaluated nearly 650 hospitals overall, with fewer than 300 receiving the title bestowed upon New Jersey’s double-digit list of top performers.

“When expectant parents are considering their options for welcoming a baby into the world, the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care is designed to help them identify hospitals that excel in delivering babies for uncomplicated pregnancies,” said Min Hee Seo, senior health data scientist at U.S. News.

The ratings are derived from data that hospitals are asked to provide across a range of objective quality measures, including four new touchpoints for this year: episiotomy rates, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates, and whether the facility met new federal criteria for “birthing friendly” practices. In another development, the 2022-2023 evaluation also rewarded hospitals that tracked and reported outcomes for patients of different races and ethnicities.

In New Jersey, First Lady Tammy Murphy has committed herself to improving maternal care and outcomes. According to her NurtureNJ strategic plan, the state ranks 47th nationwide for maternal health outcomes, with Black women seven times more likely than their white counterparts to die from a pregnancy-related complication. Seo says that identifying racial disparities is vital to achieving health equity.

“The new measures provide expectant parents with many important data points, such as whether hospitals implemented patient safety practices, to assist them in making a decision about where to receive maternity care,” she said in a statement.

Following U.S. News’ Best Hospitals rankings and procedure and condition ratings, Best Hospitals for Maternity draws quality of care from three categories: outcomes, process and structure.

Listed alphabetically, these are the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care in New Jersey:

Chilton Medical Center
Clara Maass Medical Center
Community Medical Center-Toms River
Englewood Hospital
Hackensack University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
Jefferson Health-Stratford, Cherry Hill and Washington Township
Jersey Shore University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
Monmouth Medical Center-Long Branch Campus
Morristown Medical Center
Newton Medical Center
Ocean University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
Overlook Medical Center
Palisades Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
Raritan Bay and Old Bridge Medical Centers at Hackensack Meridian Health
Riverview Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset
Southern Ocean Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
Virtua Mount Holly Hospital
Virtua Voorhees Hospital

What they’re saying

Atlantic Health System

We are honored to achieve this national recognition at all four of our maternity centers for the second year in a row. This is truly a remarkable recognition of our team’s commitment to providing high-quality care and support to moms and babies in a safe and family-friendly environment.
— Dr. Doug Arbittier, vice president, Service Lines, Atlantic Health System

Englewood Health

We are proud to be recognized as one of the best hospitals for maternity care. Every day, we strive to meet or exceed families’ expectations and to provide the best possible birthing experience.
— Valerie French, senior director of nursing for maternal/child health, Englewood Health

RWJBarnabas Health

The distinctions from U.S. News & World Report are reflective of our commitment to excellence in maternity care. We are continually striving to provide comprehensive, equitable care for expectant mothers and families across the system and this national recognition is a testament to our ongoing efforts to further that mission.
— Suzanne Spernal, vice president of women’s services, RWJBarnabas Health

Virtua

Virtua Health is very proud to receive the High Performing recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s latest Best Hospitals for Maternity list. Our maternal-child health professionals are dedicated to providing outstanding care through advanced technology while utilizing a collaborative care approach that leads to the best outcomes for our new mothers and their babies. Our strict protocols combined with the expertise of our staff ensures patient safety and exceptional patient experiences.
— Dr. Nicole Lamborne, vice president of clinical operations for women’s health services, Virtua

More maternal care:

Study: NJ one of the best states for job seekers, among worst for commuting

New Jersey is among the best states in the U.S. to land a job, according to a newly released WalletHub survey.

In its 2022 Best and Worst States for Jobs report, the Garden State ranked No. 10 when it came to providing opportunities for secure employment.

For the list, the personal finance website said it compared the 50 states across 35 key indicators of job-market strength, opportunity and a healthy economy, ranging from employment growth to median annual income to employee benefits.

According to WalletHub, New Jersey came in at No. 2 for overall economic environment, No. 4 for highest median income, No. 9 in percentage of residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19, No. 14 in monthly average starting salary, No. 16 in average length of work week, No. 23 in employment growth, No. 27 for job market and No. 48 for average commuting time.

Overall, Washington was ranked as the best state to find a job, followed by Vermont, New Hampshire, Colorado, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia, Connecticut and New Jersey.

The results are in

Click here to see the best places to work in New Jersey, as determined by the employees themselves.

young professionals celebrate

On the flip side, the states with the fewest job opportunities are Ohio (No. 41), Alabama (No. 42), South Carolina (No. 43), Pennsylvania (No. 44), Oklahoma (No. 45), Arkansas (No. 46), Louisiana (No. 47), Mississippi (No. 48), Kentucky (No. 49) and West Virginia (No. 50).

As of October 2022, the United States’ overall unemployment rate sat at 3.7%, nearing pre-pandemic levels measured around 3.5%. According to the Bureau of Labor Services, there were significant employment gains last month in health care, professional and technical services, and manufacturing.

In New Jersey, the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 3.5% in October, the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development reported in its monthly summary.

As for 2023, experts believe the job market will soften partly due to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to reduce inflation.

“We should expect an uptick in unemployment and continued historically lower levels of labor force participation. Many companies have already announced layoffs in response to declining demand for products and corporate restructuring. Twitter, Microsoft, Netflix, Oracle, Peloton, Ford, Meta, GAP, Wayfair, Wells Fargo, and Snap are among those which have laid off employees this year,” Marick Masters, a professor of business at Wayne State University in Michigan, told WalletHub.

When it comes to job growth over the next decade, Masters anticipates certain fields will thrive more than others.

“The sectors in which the most growth is expected are health care, leisure and hospitality, advanced technology, data and information analysis, and alternative energy,” he said. “Jobs that involve the provision of care and services for the elderly and infirm are like to grow considerably. Included among the specific jobs expecting growth are nurse practitioners, statisticians, health services managers, data analysts, and technicians working in alternative energy.”

Jersey Shore communities rank among ’25 Best Christmas Towns’ in US

When it comes to getting into the holiday spirit, the Jersey Shore is one of the merriest places in the U.S., according to Travel + Leisure.

The prominent travel magazine named Cape May and Atlantic City to its recently released list of “25 Best Christmas Towns in the USA.”

The compilation of “the most charming towns” to spend the holidays features destinations from coast to coast, with Aspen, Colo., ranked No. 1, followed by Ogunquit, Maine; Vail, Colo.; Nantucket, Mass., and Orlando, Fla.

Coming in at No. 21, Cape May drew praise for its family-friendly activities, quaint architecture and sweet treats.

Outside of the Showboat in Atlantic City. – JOHN DIMAIO PHOTOGRAPHY

“This Jersey Shore town has a strong Victorian streak and the holiday season pushes it a little further on the Dickensian scale. The walkable Washington Street Mall gets draped in greenery and festive lights. To sweeten the season, drop by the Original Fudge Kitchen, which also offers great fudge and saltwater taffy gift boxes,” the publication said. “If you have kids, check in to Congress Hall, where the Grand Lawn across from the beach turns into a seaside winter wonderland complete with festive activities.”

Atlantic City’s lively spirit helped it earn the No. 23 spot on Travel + Leisure’s list.

“A casino and boardwalk don’t exactly conjure images of plum puddings and carolers, yet travelers appreciate Atlantic City’s wild weekend spirit and vivid people-watching around the holidays,” the magazine wrote. “Festivities this year include the Tree Lighting and Holiday Musical Light Show at The Quarter at Tropicana. Plus, don’t miss the Atlantic City Bazaar at the Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University.”

This year also marks the start of a new, citywide celebration – the Atlantic City Tinseltown Holiday Experience, which features an array of holiday fun for the whole family, such as a winter wonderland parade and a Santa Claus-themed 5K/Kids Dash.

“Atlantic City is providing an experiential holiday celebration like never before for our visitors,” said Karen Martin, acting director of communications & marketing for the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). “Whether it’s touring the amazing decorations throughout the resort, taking in a holiday show at one of the casinos, shopping at the Tanger Outlets, or enjoying holiday-themed beverages by a fire pit, Atlantic City is the place to celebrate the holiday season with friends and families this year.”

11 from NJ rank among Deloitte’s 500 fastest-growing tech companies

Eleven businesses from New Jersey rank among the 500 fastest-growing technology companies in North America.

Released Nov. 16 by Deloitte, the North America Technology Fast 500 list, now in its 28th year, was compiled based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2018 to 2021 for firms operating in the technology, media, telecommunications, life scenes, fintech and energy tech sectors.

Overall, the companies – which represent more than 38 states and provinces – achieved revenue growth ranging from 241% to 125,138% over that three-year time frame, with a median growth rate of 611%.

Insmed's headquarters is a 117,000-square-foot building located at 700 U.S. Highway 202/206 in Bridgewater in Somerset County. — Insmed in Bridgewater was one of 11 New Jersey companies to make Deloitte’s the North America Technology Fast 500 list. – EQT EXETER

For this year’s list, the top company was Vir Biotechnology Inc., a San Francisco-based life sciences company. Software and services companies Takeoff Technologies in Waltham, Mass., and Axonius in New York City took the second and third spots, respectively.

New Jersey companies included in the Fast 500:
20. Kiswe, New Providence – Software & services (7,638%)
41. Attentive, Hoboken – Software & services (4,110%)
43. DriveWealth, Jersey City – Fintech (3,911%)
64. Semperis, Hoboken – Software & services (2,826%)
90. Insmed Inc., Bridgewater – Life sciences (1,816%)
125. Apprentice.io, Jersey City – Software & services (1,159%)
198. OwnBackup, Englewood Cliffs – Software & services (752%)
221. Avidon Health, Cranford – Life sciences (693%)
257. AccuTitle, Ship Bottom – Software & services (583%)
263. Accely Inc., Avenel – Software & services (569%)
365. ADMA Biologics Inc. – Ramsey, Life sciences (377%)

“The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 winners shine a light on the impressive innovation and entrepreneurship that we see in the Garden State,” said Paul Krieger, New Jersey managing partner, Deloitte LLP. “New Jersey attracts high-caliber talent and has a great infrastructure for growth. Despite a challenging year, these companies have made the most of it.”

When it comes to regional representation, California’s Bay Area led the pack, making up 20% of the list, followed by the New York City tri-state area (12%), New England (6%), Greater Washington D.C. (5%), Washington State (5%) and Texas (5%).

Altogether, software and services companies dominated the list for the 27th year in a row, representing 61% of companies, while life sciences and fintech rounded out the top three industry categories with 19% and 9% of total winners, respectively.

Venture capital backing continued to be a winning strategy this year, with 83% of the companies listed backed by venture capital or private equity funding at some point in their company history, up from 81% last year, according to Deloitte.

“As the past year has shown us, innovation in important areas such as life sciences is critical to addressing infectious disease and other global health issues,” Paul Silverglate, vice chair, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology sector leader, said. “In addition, technology must keep pace with ever-changing consumer and corporate demands for faster, safer and more efficient solutions to new societal challenges. Each year I am in awe of the immense talent the Technology Fast 500 rankings reveal, confirming the winners’ relentless pursuit of creativity and their ability to solve real-world problems that benefit us all.”

NJ No. 6 nationwide for hospital safety, according to latest Leapfrog grades

The Fall 2022 Hospital Safety Grades are out, and overall New Jersey bested its performance from the spring when it was ranked 12th – down from No. 9 in the prior assessment – coming in at No. 6 in the U.S.

The Leapfrog Group announced its fall grades Nov. 16. The Garden State’s placement translates to 47.1% of N.J.’s participating 70 hospitals receiving A marks.

That beats the national tally, which saw 30% of hospitals receive an A, and is an improvement over New Jersey’s spring performance when 43.5% of hospitals received A grades.

Report card: NJ

A – 33 hospitals or 47%
B – 20 hospitals or 29%
C – 14 hospitals or 20%
D – 3 hospitals or 4%
F – 0 hospitals

The independent system assigns a letter grade – A through F – to 3,000 general hospitals nationwide based on how well they protect patients from preventable errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

Within the state, 76% of hospitals received an A or B grade, up 9% from the Spring 2022 Hospital Safety Grades. And, according to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, which drives the assessment here, New Jersey is the only state that has more than 95% hospital participation – actually 98.6% – in the 2022 survey as of Oct. 31. NJHCQI said just one hospital has not submitted a survey.

Ups and downs

While no hospitals in the Garden State received an F grade, three did earn Ds: CareWell Health Medical Center (formerly East Orange General Hospital); St. Joseph’s University Medical Center; and St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center — each of which recorded the same grades in the spring assessment.

More than a dozen hospitals did improve their performance from the earlier 2022 report, including Holy Name Medical Center, a prior D that improved to a C in the fall grades.

The 13 hospitals showing improvement from their spring to fall grades were:

Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center – B to A
Holy Name Medical Center – D to C
Cooper University Hospital – C to B
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – C to B
Virtua Memorial Hospital dba Virtua Mt. Holly Hospital – C to B
Atlanticare Regional Medical Center – City Campus – C to B
Inspira Medical Center Elmer – B to A
Salem Medical Center – C to B
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton – B to A
Hackettstown Regional Medical Center – C to B
Virtua Marlton Hospital – B to A
Hudson Regional Hospital – B to A
Virtua Willingboro Hospital – C to B

Just four hospitals dropped a grade:

Newton Medical Center – A to B
Virtua Voorhees Hospital – A to B
Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center – A to B
Saint Clare’s Hospital of Dover – B to C

A total 22 hospitals have earned straight As since the Hospital Safety Grade launched a decade ago; however, none from New Jersey hold the distinction.

A handful of Garden State hospitals have aced the assessment since 2019, though: Morristown Medical Center, Chilton Medical Center, Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital, Saint Clare’s Hospital of Denville, St. Luke’s Warren Campus, Monmouth Medical Center and Jefferson Stratford Hospital.

“During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the data showed a distressing nationwide decline in patient safety measures as staffing and other challenges stressed hospitals and health care systems, including hospitals in New Jersey,” said Adelisa Perez-Hudgins, director of quality for the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, in a statement. “In New Jersey, in this half of the year, we see improvements in the data. We are not back to pre-pandemic quality, but we are heading in the right direction.”

Getting better all the time

Over the past 10 years of Safety Grades, significant improvement has been achieved in certain “never events” – according to The Leapfrog Group, medical events that should never happen – including 25% decreases in incidents of falls and trauma and incidents of objects unintentionally left in a body after surgery.

The fall release marks the 10th anniversary of the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. The past decade of data indicate that patient safety has improved. Over that time, an estimated more than 16,000 lives were saved due to improved performance across just five of The Leapfrog Group’s outcome measures.

The Safety Grades employ 22 touchpoints from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, in addition to information from other supplemental data sources.

“Never in history have we seen across-the-board improvement in patient safety until this last decade, coinciding with the history of the Hospital Safety Grade,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We salute hospitals for this milestone and encourage them to accelerate their hard work saving patient lives. For a long time, the health care community tried to improve safety, but progress stalled. The big difference over this decade is that for the first time, we publicly reported each hospital’s record on patient safety, and that galvanized the kind of change we all hoped for. It’s not enough change, but we are on the right track.”

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New Jersey companies on the 2023 GEI:

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New Jersey’s Top Franchises

No. 10 | Verizon Communications Basking Ridge

No. 12 | Johnson & Johnson New Brunswick

No. 33 | Merck & Co. Rahway

America’s 50 Best Hospitals List

America’s 100 Best Hospitals List

America’s 250 Best Hospitals List

By the numbers

Kudos from the leaders

Most Responsible Companies | New Jersey

4. Merck & Co – Kenilworth Health Care & Life Sciences

28. Campbell Soup Co. – Camden Consumer Goods

59. Zoetis – Parsippany Health Care & Life Sciences

64. Public Service Enterprise Group – Newark Energy & Utilities

94. American Water – Camden Energy & Utilities

115. Becton Dickinson and Co. – Franklin Lakes Health Care & Life Sciences

144. Church & Dwight – Ewing Consumer Goods,

186. Organon & Co. – Jersey City Health Care & Life Sciences

207. Prudential – Newark Financial

215. Universal Display – Ewing Technology/Hardware

262. Phibro Animal Health – Teaneck Health Care & Life Sciences

289. Catalent – Somerset Health Care & Life Sciences

388. Burlington – Burlington Retail

398. Clearway Energy – Princeton Energy & Utilities

433. Automatic Data Processing – Roseland Software & Telecommunications

487. Avis Budget Group – Parsippany Professional Services

496. New Jersey Resources – Wall Township Energy & Utilities