Counties with the highest unemployment in New Jersey
In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in New Jersey using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 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.
Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS.
In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses.
The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.
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
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 69,626 people (2,230 unemployed)
#20. Morris County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 274,582 people (9,490 unemployed)
#19. Monmouth County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 351,437 people (12,316 unemployed)
#18. Warren County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 60,647 people (2,215 unemployed)
#17. Somerset County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 183,385 people (6,762 unemployed)
#16. Mercer County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 219,973 people (8,101 unemployed)
#15. Burlington County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 254,799 people (9,505 unemployed)
#14. Bergen County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 513,564 people (18,751 unemployed)
#13. Ocean County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 301,106 people (11,570 unemployed)
#12. Sussex County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 79,222 people (3,061 unemployed)
#11. Gloucester County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 165,473 people (6,457 unemployed)
#10. Middlesex County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 468,043 people (18,441 unemployed)
#9. Hudson County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 385,474 people (16,591 unemployed)
#8. Camden County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 278,308 people (12,442 unemployed)
#7. Union County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 296,087 people (13,319 unemployed)
#6. Passaic County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 258,036 people (13,178 unemployed)
#5. Salem County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,478 people (1,634 unemployed)
#4. Essex County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 398,641 people (21,667 unemployed)
#3. Atlantic County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 123,387 people (6,833 unemployed)
#2. Cape May County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 44,520 people (2,513 unemployed)
#1. Cumberland County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 69,197 people (3,909 unemployed)
This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
