Jersey Hired, New Jersey’s premier hyper-local talent platform, is calling on the state’s workforce to stay resilient following the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) February report showing a national decline of 92,000 payroll jobs. The platform aims to help local talent navigate shifting employment trends and connect with opportunities in high-demand sectors.
The latest national data points to a cooling labor market, with the U.S. unemployment rate holding steady at 4.4%. For New Jersey, however, the “Garden State Gap” remains a concern. The state entered 2026 with an unemployment rate around 5.4%, roughly one percentage point above the national average, highlighting the uneven recovery of local jobs compared to national trends.
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“Today’s BLS figures reflect what many employers and job seekers in New Jersey are already experiencing: the rapid hiring momentum of recent years has slowed considerably,” said Richard Eib, Group Managing Director of Local Talent Group, the parent company of Jersey Hired. “New Jersey’s economy is showing a ‘tale of two markets.’ Traditional industries like Information and Construction have seen layoffs and WARN notices, while Health Care and specialized Professional Services continue to drive growth across the state.”
Healthcare continues to drive New Jersey’s job growth, with the “ON3 health corridor” and suburban medical hubs generating strong hiring despite national dips from strike activity. Meanwhile, Information and Government sectors are contracting, reflecting recent cost-cutting at major local employers like Verizon and pharmaceutical companies. Experts describe the state’s labor market as “static” or “tepid,” highlighting the need for workers to upskill and focus on industries that are still expanding.
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“Even with the national loss of 92,000 jobs, New Jersey remains a resilient market,” Eib added. “Thousands of openings still exist, but they are concentrated in high-demand fields. Our mission at Jersey Hired is to make sure local talent is first in line for these essential opportunities, helping the workforce adapt and thrive in a changing employment landscape.”
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