N.J. adds jobs for 6th month in a row as state reopens. Unemployment rate up slightly.

New Jersey saw another month of job gains in June, according to new data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Roughly 16,600 jobs were added in June, marking the sixth consecutive month of gains while the state’s labor market and economy recover from the fall out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the state’s employment rate shot up in March 2020 amid major shutdowns, New Jersey has recovered 423,200 jobs, or roughly 59% lost since the pandemic began, federal data shows.

Still, the state’s unemployment rate rose to 7.3% as more residents are returning to the labor force to look for work — up 0.1 percentage points since May.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expected a boost in jobs after Gov. Phil Murphy announced the state would be lifting restrictions amid increasing vaccination rates.

Job gains were largely concentrated in the private sector, which recorded 14,300 additional jobs, the bureau said. The trade, transportation and utilities sector saw the largest job growth — 6,200 jobs.

Education and health services added 4,100 jobs in June, and the professional and business services saw a gain of 800 jobs. Financial activities added 300 jobs, and other services accounted for 200 jobs.

Some sectors recorded job losses, including construction, which lost 1,300 jobs, and the manufacturing and information industries.

Public sector employment increased by 2,300 jobs in June, according to the federal data.

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Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz.

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