Counties with the highest unemployment in New Jersey

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in New Jersey, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in New Jersey.

#21. Hunterdon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 68,960 people (2,187 unemployed)

#20. Morris County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 272,948 people (9,188 unemployed)

#19. Monmouth County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 349,974 people (12,369 unemployed)

#18. Bergen County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 511,288 people (18,037 unemployed)

#17. Somerset County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 182,393 people (6,586 unemployed)

#16. Mercer County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 218,582 people (7,966 unemployed)

#15. Warren County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 60,192 people (2,235 unemployed)

#14. Burlington County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 254,444 people (9,490 unemployed)

#13. Sussex County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 78,607 people (3,039 unemployed)

#12. Gloucester County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 165,458 people (6,479 unemployed)

#11. Ocean County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 300,156 people (11,816 unemployed)

#10. Middlesex County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 467,365 people (18,324 unemployed)

#9. Hudson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 384,227 people (16,092 unemployed)

#8. Camden County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 278,190 people (12,313 unemployed)

#7. Union County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 294,786 people (13,064 unemployed)

#6. Passaic County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 257,332 people (13,023 unemployed)

#5. Salem County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 31,078 people (1,641 unemployed)

#4. Essex County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 396,221 people (20,966 unemployed)

#3. Atlantic County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 122,134 people (7,133 unemployed)

#2. Cumberland County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 68,468 people (4,142 unemployed)

#1. Cape May County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 2.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 43,568 people (3,621 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.