New Jersey unemployment drops to new low of 3.2 percent

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey’s jobless rate has fallen to a record low of 3.2 percent.

That’s according to the figures released Thursday by the state Labor and Workforce Development Department. It’s the lowest monthly rate since state-level records began in 1976.

The August unemployment rate fell from 3.3 percent the previous month, and the state added 1,100 jobs.

But the department says private sector jobs declined more than they increased, and the net increase was reached because of the addition of 2,300 public sector jobs.

Besides public sector jobs, growth also happened in health, education and other service jobs. The declines occurred in the leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, information, transportation and construction industries.