New Jersey’s official unemployment rate dipped to 5.1% in February from 5.2% in January, the state’s labor department reported. NJ lost about 10,000 jobs in February and its private-sector employment was flat over the past year.
NYC’s official unemployment rate rose to 5.8% in February, the labor department reported. That was its highest level in nearly 4 years. It was significantly higher than the U.S. rate of 4.4% and statewide rate of 4.6%.