Counties with the highest unemployment rate in New Jersey

Written by:
November 15, 2022
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Counties with the highest unemployment rate in New Jersey

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.

To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in New Jersey using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.

#21. Hunterdon County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 67,402 (1,312 unemployed)

#20. Morris County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -2.3%
- Total labor force: 264,788 (5,550 unemployed)

#19. Somerset County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -2.3%
- Total labor force: 176,569 (3,838 unemployed)

#18. Mercer County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -2.4%
- Total labor force: 211,391 (4,878 unemployed)

#17. Monmouth County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -2.6%
- Total labor force: 343,918 (7,900 unemployed)

#16. Warren County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -2.4%
- Total labor force: 59,237 (1,348 unemployed)

#15. Burlington County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -2.4%
- Total labor force: 248,271 (5,901 unemployed)

#14. Middlesex County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -2.7%
- Total labor force: 456,274 (11,071 unemployed)

#13. Bergen County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -3.0%
- Total labor force: 494,299 (12,478 unemployed)

#12. Ocean County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -2.7%
- Total labor force: 294,393 (7,611 unemployed)

#11. Sussex County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -2.6%
- Total labor force: 76,556 (1,956 unemployed)

#10. Gloucester County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.7%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -2.6%
- Total labor force: 161,353 (4,317 unemployed)

#9. Hudson County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -3.3%
- Total labor force: 369,849 (10,794 unemployed)

#8. Union County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -3.2%
- Total labor force: 284,745 (8,350 unemployed)

#7. Camden County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -1.2%
--- 1 year change: -3.2%
- Total labor force: 270,723 (8,256 unemployed)

#6. Cape May County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -2.8%
- Total labor force: 51,062 (1,703 unemployed)

#5. Salem County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: -1.4%
--- 1 year change: -3.2%
- Total labor force: 29,925 (1,053 unemployed)

#4. Essex County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -1.2%
--- 1 year change: -3.7%
- Total labor force: 382,393 (13,847 unemployed)

#3. Passaic County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -1.4%
--- 1 year change: -4.1%
- Total labor force: 247,347 (8,934 unemployed)

#2. Atlantic County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: -1.2%
--- 1 year change: -4.5%
- Total labor force: 129,485 (4,773 unemployed)

#1. Cumberland County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: -1.6%
--- 1 year change: -3.2%
- Total labor force: 68,666 (2,537 unemployed)

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