ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. (AP) - Republican Gov. Chris Christie says New Jersey has recovered all the jobs lost during the recession and the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.6 percent in January down from 4. 7 percent.
Christie touted the new Bureau of Labor Statistics data Monday at LG Electronics USA and cast the report as a milestone for the state.
Christie came into office with the state’s economy contracting and the unemployment rate at 9.8 percent.
He says New Jersey has added 313,000 private-sector jobs since he took office in 2010. He says the data show New Jersey exceeded pre-recession figures by 65,000 jobs.
The term-limited governor, who leaves office next year, says New Jersey added 60,800 jobs in 2016, the highest single-year gain since 2000.
Federal unemployment rate in January was 4.8 percent.
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