Unemployment dips to 6.8% in New Jersey

TRENTON (AP) — New Jersey officials say the state unemployment rate inched down to 6.8 percent in May, its lowest level in more than five years.

The report released Thursday by the state Labor Department and based on data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the unemployment rate down 0.1 percent point in May, the lowest since November 2008.

The report finds that while employment was essentially unchanged in May, private sector job growth was larger in April than first reported.

The state's private sector added 7,000 workers to payrolls in April, while the public sector shed 200 jobs in May.

That state's unemployment rate remains higher than the 6.3 percent national average.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)