TRENTON – Today, Governor Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey’s unemployment rate declined to a historic low of 3.5% in June – its lowest level since state-level records began being kept 43 years ago. New Jersey’s unemployment rate also fell below the national unemployment rate of 3.7%.

The preliminary unemployment numbers for June, released Thursday by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, show total nonfarm wage and salary employment in the state increasing by 10,200 in June to reach a seasonally adjusted level of 4,204,600. Gains were realized in both the private and public sectors of the state’s economy.

“Today, New Jersey is working for more families and more families are working,” said Governor Murphy. “Today’s news that New Jersey’s unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in recorded history shows, clearly, that our efforts to grow our economy the right way are paying real dividends. From creating good-paying jobs to making health care more affordable and accessible to expanding access to education from pre-K through an associate’s degree, we’re focused on building an economy that works for every New Jersey family. Today, we can say confidently that New Jersey is moving in the right direction.”

Additionally, Governor Murphy announced that RWJ Barnabas Health and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development are partnering to hire 80 apprentices in the health care field, including lab technicians, paramedics, and patient care specialists, all of whom earn at least $15 per hour and receive college credits toward a postsecondary degree.

“This is great news for New Jersey workers and our economy,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “What we see today is more than a number. We see that our economy – and Governor Murphy’s economic policies – are working for New Jersey. More people have jobs, workers are earning better wages and benefits, and businesses are able to compete and grow.”

New Jersey currently has a total of 7,623 active apprentices working in 837 registered apprenticeship programs. In the 18 months since Governor Murphy took office, New Jersey has added 221 registered apprenticeship programs to the 616 programs it had previously, a nearly 36 percent increase.