Even as New Jersey's Gross State Product enjoyed substantial growth (see next section) employment failed to keep pace. From 1997 to 2004, the state added just 242,000 jobs, representing growth of less than 7 percent. Increase in jobs was slower than growth in total state population, and especially for the population aged 18 to 64.
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment, 1997-2004. |
Much of the employment growth occurred in New Jersey's historically rural counties. For example, Gloucester and Sussex Counties saw job growth of 21 and 23 percent, respectively. During the same period, Essex County added only 4,076 jobs, for growth of 1.2 percent. Union County added only 6,000 jobs, a 2.7 percent increase.