Highlights from the 2011 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses show how the
commitment to safety has continued to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses in New Jersey.
Through no-cost training programs and no-cost workplace consultations, LWD continues to help
employers and workers assure that jobsites are productive and free of safety and health hazards.
Issue 25 of NJ Labor Market Views introduces these free services of the Department and how
they are helping employers to implement safe work policies and train workers to work smarter
and safer.

Issue # 24 (12/06/12)
A Pre-Hurricane Sandy Portrait of
New Jersey’s Hardest Hit Areas

Thirteen months after Hurricane Irene struck New Jersey in August,
2011, Hurricane Sandy brought even greater and more widespread
destruction to the Garden State than its predecessor. The infrastructure
and economy of much of New Jersey felt the devastating impact
of winds and surging waters as the center of Hurricane Sandy swept
onshore October 29, 2012, north of Atlantic City. The hurricane resulted
in dozens of deaths, knocked out power to more than 2.5 million
homes and businesses and, according to preliminary estimates by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the storm damaged
or destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey.

Issue # 23 (10/12/12)
Projections of New Jersey's 
Population and Labor Force

According to recently released projections data, New Jersey is
expected to have 9.2 million residents in 2020, and the state's labor force
is anticipated to increase by 5.3 percent.  In addition, the population of
the Garden State is expected to continue to become more diverse.  Issue
23 of New Jersey Labor Market Views looks at the state's population
and labor force projections through 2030.

• According  to the 2010 Census, New Jersey had 8,791,894 residents,
  or 4,5 percent more residents than a decade ago.  Among them, 51.3
  percent were women, 17.7 percent were Hispanics, and 8.5 percent were
  Asians.  Since 2000, the proportion of women declined somewhat
  (from 51.5% in 2000) while the proportions of the elderly (from 13.2%),
  Hispanic (from 13.3%) and Asian (from 5.8%) persons increased.
  

Issue # 22 (10/12/12)
New Jersey Continues Attracting
Financial Services Businesses 

Infrastructure, value and talent are all key elements in attracting financial
services firms to the state of New Jersey and keeping them here.  Issue 22
of New Jersey Labor Market Views gives an overview of the financial
services industry and its importance to the state's economy.

• The financial services industry is a significant driver of the state's economy
  contributing almost $37 billion, or roughly 9.0 percent, to the 2011 Gross
  State Product.  Finance and Insurance industry employers in New
  Jersey paid almost $19.7 billion in total wages in 2011, accounting for
  11 percent of the state's total private sector wages.

Issue # 21 (9/6/12)
Key Workforce Challenges:  Aging
Workforce and Looming Retirements
The baby boom generation remains a powerful force casting its shadow over
the future.  New Jersey's working-age population of nearly 7 million includes
approximately 2.2 million people ages 55 and over, according to the 2010
Census.  This issue of NJ Labor Market Views discusses how the state's
workforce could be impacted as these older workers reach retirement age.

• In the next few years, many of the state's older workers will consider retirement
  as soon as it is financially possible.  The number of younger workers appears
  adequate to replace retiring baby boomers.  There are approximately 1.4
  million residents between the ages of 45 and 54 with approximately 1.2 million
  more residents between the ages of 35 and 44. 
  

Issue # 20 (8/28/12)
Life Science Remains Strong in the
Garden State
New Jersey's biopharmaceutical and life-science industry cluster continues to
expand the state's long-established record of science- and knowledge-based
advancements even as it continues to add enormous value to the State's
economy.  The latest available employment data (third quarter of 2011),
showed that the 3,129 business establishments of the biopharmaceutical and
life-science industry cluster reported an employment level totaling 122,442
jobs.  This industry cluster relies on the highly skilled and educated workforce
for which New Jersey is noted.

• In 2010, the biopharmaceutical and life-science industry cluster accounted for
  about 3.9 percent of the state's total employment.  However, because these jobs 
  are well-paying, the cluster is responsible for 8.1 percent of New Jersey's
  total payrolls. 
  

Issue # 19 (4/19/12)
New Jerseyans and Disabilities 
This issue of NJ Labor Market Views provides current estimates of
the socioeconomic characteristics of the Garden State's population
with disabilities.  Data from the 2010 American Community Survey
reveals that 845,000 New Jerseyians, or 9.7 percent of residents
statewide, report having some type of disability.

• In 2010, New Jersey 9.7 percent of the state's residents reported having
  some sort of disability, the second lowest percentage among the
  50 states.  Only Utah (8.5%) ranked lower.  The state with the highest 
  percentage of disabled persons was West Virginia (18.9%). 
  
  
• Most of New Jersey's disabled persons are women (55%).  This is
  because disability becomes more prevalent as people age and women
  have a longer life expectancy.

Issue # 18 (2/17/12)
New Jersey's Asian Population by Asian Group:  2010 
According to figures from the 2010 Census, New Jersey was home
to more than 725,000 Asians in 2010.  The number of Asian
residents more than doubled since 2000 and the group's increase of
250,898 persons was the largest decennial gain on record.  In this
issue of New Jersey Labor Market Views, get a detailed analysis
of New Jersey's Asian population by major Asian group.

• Major Asian groups in New Jersey include Asian Indians (292,256),
  Chinese (134,442), Filipino (110,650), Korean (93,679), Pakistani (26,006),
  Vietnamese (20,628) and Japanese (13,146).
  
• The overwhelming majority of the state's Asians are immigrants from
  other countries.

Issue # 17 (1/30/12)
New Jersey - Older on Average 
Data from the 2010 Census shows that New Jerseyans are living longer.
Not only does the Garden State have more older residents (population
65 and older), it also has fewer residents who are age 18 and younger.
This issue of NJ Labor Market Views provides an analysis of the state's
population by age group. 

• The median age in New Jersey in 2010 was 39.0 years.
  
• The age cohort with the greatest percentage growth from 2000 to 2010
  was residents age 85 and over.  In 2010, more people age 100 and over
  were alive than in any previous census.

Issue # 16 (12/2/11)
As Construction Grows Stronger New Jersey's Economy Will Follow

Although construction makes up a relatively small proportion of New Jersey's
private sector employment, a healthy construction industry helps drive broader
economic activity. In this issue of NJ Labor Market Views read about the
impact of the construction industry on New Jersey's economy.

• New Jersey's construction industry directly contributed $12.6 billion in 2005
  inflation-adjusted dollars to the nation's 2009 gross domestic product (GDP)
  representing 2.8 percent of the GDP generated nationally by this industry.
  
  
• In 2009, jobs in New Jersey's construction industry paid higher average
  annual wages ($60,588) than the average for the state's private sector as a
  whole.

Issue # 14 (10/19/11)
People From Many Nations Form New Jersey's Hispanic Population

According to figures from the 2010 Census, New Jersey is home to more than 1.5
million Hispanics in 2010.  They account for nearly 18 percent of the total
population and form one of the Garden State's fastest growing minority groups.  In
this issue of New Jersey Labor Market Views get a detailed analysis of New
Jersey's Hispanic population.

• Hispanics are projected to comprise 22.2 percent of the state's total population
  by 2028.
  
  
• Since the 1970 Census, New Jersey's Hispanic population has increased by
  439 percent.

Issue # 13 (9/22/11)
Advanced Manufacturing Creates the Products and Processes of Tomorrow 
The term "advanced manufacturing" is often used to describe the products or processes
that utilize technological advances to enhance the way we make things or the things
that we make.  In this issue of NJ Labor Market Views, learn how advanced
manufacturing and its ongoing innovation is vital to New Jersey's continued economic
success. 

• In 2009, there were more than 127,000 jobs within industries classified as advanced
  manufacturing..
  
  
• More than $11.6 billion in wages were paid in 2009, or roughly 6.8 percent of New
  Jersey's total wages paid.

Issue # 12 (9/06/11)
Annual Average Wage in 2010 Rebounds From First Decline

New Jersey's annual average wage reached a new high in 2010 after seeing its first decline
in more than 40 years in 2009.

• The 2010 annual average wage in New Jersey rose to $56,385 from $55,173 in 2009,
  an increase of $1,212 or 2.2 percent.
  
  
• The highest annual average wage growth during 2010 occurred in the industry sectors
  of finance and insurance (+7.2%) and management of companies and enterprises (+6.4%).

Issue # 11 (8/11/11)
Garden State the Destination for Financial Services Businesses

New Jersey's close proximity to New York City, highly competitive corporate real estate rates
and an unmatched talent pool make New Jersey a prime location for financial services firms.

• New Jersey has one of the most extensive fiber optic networks in the world to
  support the financial industry's high-speed communications needs.
  
  
• The state has a highly educated talent pool - more than 34 percent of New Jersey's
  workforce has earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

Issue # 10 (7/13/11)
New Jersey’s Leisure, Hospitality and Retail Cluster: The Shore and More

Many of the businesses within leisure, hospitality and retail trade also directly and indirectly
support the state’s tourism industry.

• Leisure, hospitality and retail trade (LHR) employment totaled 766,410 in 2009,
  or 24 percent of all private sector workers in the state.
  
  
• New Jersey LHR employers paid more than $20 billion in wages during 2009,
  or 11.8 percent of the state total.

Issue # 9 (6/23/11)
New Jersey Well Positioned for Transportation, Logistics and Distribution

The real estate ideal of, “location, location, location,” aptly describes New Jersey. 

• New Jersey has 36,000 miles of highways and 500,000 trucks move freight over
  these roads daily.
         
• Within a day’s drive of the Garden State, truckers can reach 40 percent of the
  US population, or 100 million consumers who purchase $2 trillion in merchandise
  each year.

Issue # 8 (6/14/11)
Growth of County Population From 1790 to 2010

New Jersey has undergone many changes in business, in fashion, and in population
since 1790 when the first national census was conducted. 

• From a total of 184,139 residents in 1790, New Jersey’s population grew by more than
  4,600 percent to a level of 8,791,894 in 2010.
         
• Between 1824 and 1857, New Jersey’s original 13 counties were divided to create eight
  additional counties.

Issue # 7 (5/16/11)
Growing New Jersey Minority Population Reaches Majority in Some Municipalities

Census 2010 data on race and ethnicity showed that New Jersey is a highly diverse state with
the nation’s fourth largest Asian population and seventh largest Hispanic population. 

• Populations of two municipalities in Essex County had more than 97 percent minority residents.
         
• Non-Hispanic white residents comprise 90 percent of the population in 137 municipalities.

Issue # 6 (5/11/11)
NJ's Changing Biopharm/Life Sciences Industry Reaches Beyond Traditional
Pharmaceuticals
The vitality of the biopharmaceutical and life-sciences cluster in New Jersey is fundamental to
the state’s economic health with its well-paying jobs;

• Accounted for $23 billion or nearly 5.0 percent of New Jersey’s gross domestic product.
         
• Invested nearly $20 billion in research and development, the 3rd most among the 50 states.

Issue # 5 (4/18/11)
Most New Jerseyans Call Smaller Municipalities Home
Where we live makes a great deal of difference to us and to our families.Each municipality
in the Garden State has its own personality and character and that has an impact on many
things from the makeup of the people we call neighbors;

• Just over half of us reside in smaller towns with populations between 10,000 and 50,000
         
• Another quarter of Garden State residents live in towns of 50,000 to 100,000 residents

Issue # 4 (4/11/11)
New Jersey’s Economic Health Depends on Health Care Industry
The overall health, both of New Jersey’s economy and its people, is clearly tied
to the capabilities of the evolving health care industry.  

• The health care industry contributed over $32 billion to New Jersey’s
      Gross Domestic Product in 2008 (roughly 7% of all output).        
• New Jersey employers, across all health care industries, paid more than
      $21 billion in wages in 2009    

Issue # 3 (4/06/11)
Signs of the Times? “Help Wanted” and Job Growth
Recent indicators of New Jersey’s economic health, taken together appear to point toward
a brightening economic picture.  

• Job openings posted by employers were up in each of the last two months, increasing
      nearly two percent in February.
• Private sector employment increased in six-of-10 supersectors in February
      adding nearly 7,000 jobs.

Issue # 2 (3/22/11)
The Changing Face of New Jersey Is More Diverse Than Ever
Look at the people around you. The diversity you’re seeing is a hallmark of the
Garden State according to the 2010 Census. New Jersey continues to be one of
the most racially and ethnically diverse states. The latest figures showed that in
New Jersey between 2000 and 2010: 

• The increase in the Hispanic population was greater than the total population increase.
• The fastest growing racial group was Asian, which increased by 51.1 percent.