BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
09/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2025 13:23
County Employment and Wages in New Jersey — First Quarter 2025
News Release Information
25-1443-PHI
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Contacts Technical information:
- (215) 597-3282
- [email protected]
- https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic
- (215) 861-5600
- [email protected]
County Employment and Wages in New Jersey - First Quarter 2025
Employment rose in 14 of the 15 largest counties in New Jersey from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that Ocean County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 1.9 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)
View Chart Data
Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in New Jersey, March 2025
| County | Percent change, March 2025 |
|
Ocean |
1.9 |
|
Monmouth |
1.7 |
|
Gloucester |
1.4 |
|
Camden |
1.2 |
|
Passaic |
1.0 |
|
Bergen |
0.9 |
|
Burlington |
0.9 |
|
Morris |
0.9 |
|
Essex |
0.8 |
|
Mercer |
0.8 |
|
Somerset |
0.7 |
|
Union |
0.7 |
|
Hudson |
0.5 |
|
Middlesex |
0.5 |
|
Atlantic |
-0.1 |
Among the 15 largest counties in New Jersey, employment was highest in Bergen (436,900) in March 2025. Together, the 15 largest counties accounted for 88.9 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2025Over the year, average weekly increased in 14 of the 15 large New Jersey counties. (See chart 2.) Monmouth had the largest gain (+10.9 percent). Over-the-year wage changes among New Jersey's other 14 large counties ranged from 7.6 percent to -1.0 percent.
View Chart Data
Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in New Jersey, first quarter 2025
| County | Percent change, first quarter 2025 |
|
Monmouth |
10.9 |
|
Somerset |
7.6 |
|
Mercer |
4.5 |
|
Burlington |
4.3 |
|
Gloucester |
3.6 |
|
Bergen |
3.2 |
|
Hudson |
2.8 |
|
Essex |
2.5 |
|
Passaic |
2.3 |
|
Camden |
1.9 |
|
Atlantic |
1.7 |
|
Ocean |
1.6 |
|
Middlesex |
1.0 |
|
Morris |
0.7 |
|
Union |
-1.0 |
Weekly wages in 8 of the 15 largest counties in New Jersey were above the national average of $1,589. Average weekly wages ranged from $2,701 in Somerset to $1,111 in Ocean.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2025Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the six small counties in New Jersey, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in five of the six smaller counties were below the national average. Hunterdon reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,621). Cape May reported the lowest average weekly wage ($995) in the state.
Among all 21 New Jersey counties, 6 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,225, 5 registered wages from $1,225 to $1,499, 5 had wages from $1,500 to $1,774, and 5 had average weekly wages of $1,775 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in New Jersey, first quarter 2025
Additional statistics and other information
(U.S. average = $1,589)
Select a filter: 9981,5901,4751,4401,0291,0981,2381,1911,0491,4189441,3531,7531,0622,0511,4781,1111,7311,1471,1031,1451,0859021,734
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1,734
QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3.
Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release. Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.
Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
County Changes for the 2025 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 15 largest counties in New Jersey, first quarter 2025
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2024 are included in this release and will be included in future 2025 releases. Four counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Pinal, AZ; Henry, GA; Wood, OH; and Comal, TX. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Gregg, TX.
| Area |
Establishments, first quarter (thousands) |
Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | |||||
|
March 2025 (thousands) |
Percent change, March 2024-25 (2) |
National ranking by percent change (3) |
First quarter 2025 ($) |
National ranking by level (3) |
Percent change, first quarter 2024-25 (2) |
National ranking by percent change (3) |
||
|
United States (4) |
12,249.3 | 154,523.8 | 0.4 | -- | 1,589 | -- | 4.1 | -- |
|
New Jersey |
338.9 | 4,259.0 | 1.1 | -- | 1,815 | 7 | 3.0 | 44 |
|
Atlantic |
7.6 | 122.8 | -0.1 | 235 | 1,199 | 282 | 1.7 | 304 |
|
Bergen |
37.1 | 436.9 | 0.9 | 93 | 1,661 | 66 | 3.2 | 187 |
|
Burlington |
13.0 | 213.1 | 0.9 | 93 | 1,470 | 120 | 4.3 | 94 |
|
Camden |
14.7 | 207.7 | 1.2 | 66 | 1,372 | 171 | 1.9 | 296 |
|
Essex |
24.7 | 352.4 | 0.8 | 105 | 1,902 | 35 | 2.5 | 251 |
|
Gloucester |
7.7 | 127.3 | 1.4 | 48 | 1,152 | 318 | 3.6 | 145 |
|
Hudson |
20.2 | 273.0 | 0.5 | 155 | 2,184 | 17 | 2.8 | 228 |
|
Mercer |
12.1 | 261.9 | 0.8 | 105 | 2,133 | 19 | 4.5 | 84 |
|
Middlesex |
26.4 | 429.3 | 0.5 | 155 | 1,764 | 49 | 1.0 | 325 |
|
Monmouth |
22.6 | 274.2 | 1.7 | 29 | 1,526 | 100 | 10.9 | 3 |
|
Morris |
18.5 | 301.5 | 0.9 | 93 | 2,318 | 13 | 0.7 | 328 |
|
Ocean |
16.6 | 186.9 | 1.9 | 24 | 1,111 | 334 | 1.6 | 309 |
|
Passaic |
16.0 | 174.2 | 1.0 | 82 | 1,266 | 231 | 2.3 | 268 |
|
Somerset |
11.3 | 192.6 | 0.7 | 127 | 2,701 | 7 | 7.6 | 8 |
|
Union |
17.2 | 230.4 | 0.7 | 127 | 1,768 | 48 | -1.0 | 345 |
|
Footnotes: |
||||||||
|
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. |
||||||||
| Area | Establishments | Employment March 2025 | Average weekly wage ($) (1) |
|
United States (2) |
12,249,320 | 154,523,785 | 1,589 |
|
New Jersey |
338,911 | 4,258,969 | 1,815 |
|
Atlantic |
7,559 | 122,810 | 1,199 |
|
Bergen |
37,147 | 436,876 | 1,661 |
|
Burlington |
12,992 | 213,061 | 1,470 |
|
Camden |
14,701 | 207,706 | 1,372 |
|
Cape May |
4,130 | 35,216 | 995 |
|
Cumberland |
3,925 | 60,057 | 1,106 |
|
Essex |
24,671 | 352,395 | 1,902 |
|
Gloucester |
7,655 | 127,320 | 1,152 |
|
Hudson |
20,196 | 272,989 | 2,184 |
|
Hunterdon |
4,166 | 47,366 | 1,621 |
|
Mercer |
12,062 | 261,878 | 2,133 |
|
Middlesex |
26,362 | 429,330 | 1,764 |
|
Monmouth |
22,618 | 274,219 | 1,526 |
|
Morris |
18,509 | 301,453 | 2,318 |
|
Ocean |
16,576 | 186,896 | 1,111 |
|
Passaic |
16,021 | 174,221 | 1,266 |
|
Salem |
1,565 | 21,530 | 1,392 |
|
Somerset |
11,320 | 192,628 | 2,701 |
|
Sussex |
3,735 | 38,077 | 1,168 |
|
Union |
17,187 | 230,364 | 1,768 |
|
Warren |
2,971 | 33,784 | 1,330 |
|
Footnotes: |
|||
|
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. |
|||
| State |
Establishments, first quarter (thousands) |
Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | ||||
|
March 2025 (thousands) |
Percent change, March 2024-25 |
First quarter 2025 ($) |
National ranking by level |
Percent change, first quarter 2024-25 |
National ranking by percent change |
||
|
United States (2) |
12,249.3 | 154,523.8 | 0.4 | 1,589 | -- | 4.1 | -- |
|
Alabama |
163.3 | 2,102.3 | 0.3 | 1,245 | 39 | 3.8 | 23 |
|
Alaska |
25.3 | 323.5 | 1.3 | 1,452 | 20 | 5.8 | 4 |
|
Arizona |
226.1 | 3,259.3 | 0.3 | 1,431 | 21 | 3.8 | 23 |
|
Arkansas |
107.6 | 1,304.4 | 0.7 | 1,236 | 40 | 5.6 | 6 |
|
California |
1,945.4 | 18,066.2 | 0.1 | 1,905 | 6 | 4.2 | 13 |
|
Colorado |
242.4 | 2,862.7 | 0.1 | 1,681 | 8 | 4.2 | 13 |
|
Connecticut |
148.5 | 1,671.7 | 0.5 | 1,980 | 4 | 3.8 | 23 |
|
Delaware |
45.4 | 474.3 | 0.8 | 1,535 | 15 | 3.4 | 30 |
|
District of Columbia |
51.5 | 748.9 | -1.4 | 2,606 | 1 | 7.2 | 1 |
|
Florida |
886.5 | 9,958.4 | 0.9 | 1,456 | 19 | 5.1 | 8 |
|
Georgia |
394.8 | 4,860.7 | 0.4 | 1,491 | 17 | 3.4 | 30 |
|
Hawaii |
60.3 | 644.8 | 0.6 | 1,363 | 27 | 6.7 | 2 |
|
Idaho |
102.7 | 848.2 | 1.2 | 1,178 | 48 | 4.2 | 13 |
|
Illinois |
407.1 | 5,988.9 | 0.2 | 1,662 | 9 | 3.2 | 38 |
|
Indiana |
194.8 | 3,161.4 | 0.3 | 1,323 | 30 | 4.2 | 13 |
|
Iowa |
111.3 | 1,537.7 | -0.5 | 1,253 | 36 | 3.2 | 38 |
|
Kansas |
104.3 | 1,428.0 | 0.8 | 1,246 | 38 | 4.0 | 19 |
|
Kentucky |
159.6 | 1,986.3 | 0.0 | 1,213 | 44 | 2.4 | 51 |
|
Louisiana |
157.0 | 1,921.2 | 0.5 | 1,227 | 42 | 2.8 | 49 |
|
Maine |
66.6 | 629.6 | 0.1 | 1,283 | 34 | 2.7 | 50 |
|
Maryland |
197.7 | 2,739.0 | -0.2 | 1,634 | 10 | 3.2 | 38 |
|
Massachusetts |
289.8 | 3,575.8 | -0.7 | 2,107 | 3 | 4.6 | 11 |
|
Michigan |
307.3 | 4,337.3 | -0.3 | 1,391 | 24 | 2.9 | 48 |
|
Minnesota |
211.8 | 2,878.6 | -0.1 | 1,570 | 14 | 3.7 | 27 |
|
Mississippi |
91.3 | 1,160.4 | -0.4 | 1,018 | 51 | 4.1 | 17 |
|
Missouri |
252.4 | 2,886.9 | 0.1 | 1,310 | 31 | 3.2 | 38 |
|
Montana |
67.1 | 505.8 | 0.6 | 1,189 | 46 | 5.6 | 6 |
|
Nebraska |
78.6 | 1,008.4 | -0.1 | 1,231 | 41 | 3.1 | 42 |
|
Nevada |
106.1 | 1,541.2 | 0.2 | 1,359 | 29 | 4.1 | 17 |
|
New Hampshire |
66.3 | 681.0 | 0.1 | 1,606 | 11 | 4.8 | 9 |
|
New Jersey |
338.9 | 4,259.0 | 1.1 | 1,815 | 7 | 3.0 | 44 |
|
New Mexico |
66.8 | 868.2 | 0.3 | 1,203 | 45 | 3.9 | 22 |
|
New York |
716.1 | 9,757.0 | 1.4 | 2,213 | 2 | 6.2 | 3 |
|
North Carolina |
373.2 | 4,888.5 | 0.2 | 1,467 | 18 | 4.8 | 9 |
|
North Dakota |
36.4 | 422.8 | 0.6 | 1,302 | 33 | 3.3 | 34 |
|
Ohio |
344.2 | 5,466.8 | 0.2 | 1,361 | 28 | 3.5 | 28 |
|
Oklahoma |
130.9 | 1,700.2 | 0.5 | 1,186 | 47 | 3.0 | 44 |
|
Oregon |
186.2 | 1,965.7 | -0.8 | 1,420 | 23 | 3.3 | 34 |
|
Pennsylvania |
394.5 | 6,003.5 | 0.6 | 1,500 | 16 | 3.5 | 28 |
|
Rhode Island |
49.0 | 489.3 | 1.0 | 1,429 | 22 | 3.0 | 44 |
|
South Carolina |
198.7 | 2,304.9 | 1.7 | 1,247 | 37 | 4.4 | 12 |
|
South Dakota |
40.5 | 450.5 | 0.2 | 1,163 | 49 | 3.0 | 44 |
|
Tennessee |
221.0 | 3,251.5 | -0.4 | 1,364 | 26 | 4.0 | 19 |
|
Texas |
847.6 | 14,015.9 | 1.2 | 1,587 | 13 | 3.1 | 42 |
|
Utah |
138.1 | 1,720.5 | 1.1 | 1,365 | 25 | 4.0 | 19 |
|
Vermont |
33.5 | 306.8 | -0.4 | 1,280 | 35 | 3.8 | 23 |
|
Virginia |
321.9 | 4,108.8 | 0.8 | 1,605 | 12 | 3.4 | 30 |
|
Washington |
240.9 | 3,583.7 | 0.9 | 1,935 | 5 | 5.8 | 4 |
|
West Virginia |
61.9 | 694.6 | 0.0 | 1,149 | 50 | 3.3 | 34 |
|
Wisconsin |
208.9 | 2,898.4 | -0.2 | 1,305 | 32 | 3.4 | 30 |
|
Wyoming |
31.0 | 274.6 | 0.0 | 1,216 | 43 | 3.3 | 34 |
|
Puerto Rico |
52.0 | 946.1 | -0.7 | 699 | (3) | 3.2 | (3) |
|
Virgin Islands |
2.9 | 33.8 | -7.5 | 1,034 | (3) | 2.7 | (3) |
|
Footnotes: |
|||||||
|
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. |
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BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published this content on September 16, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 16, 2025 at 19:24 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]