POLL: Are You Still Looking For Work?

The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday that New Jersey employers increased payrolls for the sixth consecutive month in February, while the state’s unemployment rate held steady at 9.0 percent.  

Since February 2010, which was the low point of private sector employment during the recession, there has been a gain of 74,500 private sector jobs in New Jersey. Just over the last year, February 2011 – February 2012, total nonfarm employment in the Garden State has increased by 50,600 jobs.

In addition, the department reported that preliminary estimates indicate that total nonfarm wage and salary employment in New Jersey moved higher in February, up by 8,700, to a seasonally adjusted 3,892,100, as measured by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through its monthly employer survey. Hiring by private employers (+9,700) was somewhat offset by cutbacks in the public sector which saw employment decrease by 1,000.

Where were the biggest gains? According to a report, industries adding the most jobs included, professional and business services (+3,700), leisure and hospitality (+3,100), and education and health services (+2,500). 

Hopefully, if you were out of work, you are seeing some opportunities to find employment. Let us know in the comments section.