New Jersey’s jobless rate holds steady at 9.7 percent in November; October job figures revised
By APWednesday, December 16, 2009
NJ’s unemployment rate stays steady in November
TRENTON, N.J. — The state Labor Department says New Jersey’s unemployment rate held steady in November despite more job losses in the private sector.
It also reported that the state gained several hundred jobs in October, instead of losing jobs as initially reported.
Figures released Wednesday showed the state’s jobless rate for November was 9.7 percent, the same as October. That’s still lower than the national rate of 10 percent.
The state lost 9,400 jobs in November, partly because retail stores hired fewer people than usual for the holiday season. Overall, private sector employment fell by 10,900 in November, while public sector jobs rose by 1,500.
The new report also revised the state’s job loss figure for October, from a loss of 1,800 jobs to a gain of 1,200.
