Over 1.35 Million Jobs Supported; $112.8 Billion in Personal Income Generated and $33.8 Billion in Taxes Contributed Annually

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. – A new report released today by The Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) at Rutgers University highlights just how critical New Jersey’s warehouse and distribution centers (key components of the logistics industry) are to the state’s economy and prosperity. The data shows that existing warehouses and distribution centers support over 764,000 direct jobs and more than 1.35 million total jobs in the state.

A copy of the full report is attached and available here.

“The logistics industry is an impressive economic engine for New Jersey,” said Dan Kennedy, CEO of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association – New Jersey Chapter. “Often lost in the conversation are the economic contributions made by the existing warehouse and distribution centers that create an eye-opening number of jobs and contribute an irreplaceable amount of federal, state and local taxes that support critical services for all New Jersey residents. With all the state and local discussions going on about warehouse development and supporting infrastructure, we feel the public deserves to know the truth - warehouses and distribution centers make a substantial economic contribution to New Jersey’s economy that no industry can match.”

“While we have always known how impactful it is to New Jersey, this report shows just how much critical links in the logistics industry like warehouses and distribution centers contribute to the state’s economy,” said John J. Nardi, President of the Shipping Association of NY and NJ.

The analysis is the first complimentary report undertaken in conjunction with the 2025 Economic Impact Assessment of the New York-New Jersey Port Industry. The Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) at Rutgers University undertook this study on behalf of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association and in partnership with the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey.

The report focuses on existing warehouses and distribution centers within the state, and the role they play in maintaining efficient and effective supply chains. In addition to the staggering job figures, the report also found that warehouses and distribution centers in New Jersey annually support:

• Over $112.8 billion in personal income.
• More than $295.8 billion in business activity.
• More than $33.8 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues, with local and state tax revenues of nearly $11.3 billion and federal tax revenues of almost $22.6 billion.

“New Jersey may be one of the smallest states in the nation but it is a vital hub for the distribution of goods across the country,” said Anne Strauss-Wieder, Senior Freight and Logistics Researcher at Rutgers CAIT and a Lecturer at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. “While warehouses and distribution centers are visible throughout the state, the activities that occur within them – as well as the number of workers employed and the economic value they generate – are often less apparent. Not only does this report quantify those numbers, it also shows just how great that impact really is.”

The analysis used published reports, fieldwork, engineering information, and the extensive knowledge of the Advisory Committee to develop a consensus estimation of the number of workers in New Jersey’s warehouses and distribution centers. Once the number of workers in New Jersey’s warehouses and distribution centers was ascertained, CAIT undertook the additional quantification of the ongoing economic value generated by these operations using the same economic impact model developed for the 2025 Port Industry analysis.

“Previously available data showed the numerous benefits of the state’s logistics industry,” said David Greek, chair of Circulate NJ. “That data, however, was years old and did not reflect the true nature of how large that impact is. This new report provides a great picture of just how many New Jerseyans rely on the logistics industry for their livelihood. We thank NAIOP NJ, the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey, Rutgers and Anne Strauss-Wieder for bringing this valuable information to the public.”

About Rutgers CAIT: The Rutgers University Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) tackles some of the country’s most pressing infrastructure challenges, especially those that are endemic in high-volume multimodal corridors like the Northeast. CAIT research maintains the health of bridges, roads, and pipelines; creates revolutionary technologies, materials, and tools; and develops strategies to prolong the service life of transportation infrastructure. Since 1998, CAIT has been a University Transportation Center (UTC) – a group of academic research institutions sanctioned and supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. CAIT was selected to lead the Region 2 UTC in 2018 and joined the National Center for Infrastructure Transformation in 2023.

About NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association – New Jersey Chapter: NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association is the leading organization for owners, developers, and related professionals in all asset classes of commercial real estate. Founded in 1970, NAIOP NJ’s mission is to elevate the commercial real estate development industry by providing advocacy, education, research and connections to foster business opportunities. For more information about the study and the organization please visit naiopnj.org and follow us on X @naiopnj. 

About Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey: Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey (SANYNJ) is a membership organization comprised of the ocean cargo carriers, terminal operators, stevedores, and marine-related businesses that operate the ships, move the cargo, train and employ the laborers, provide and maintain the equipment, that moves more than $200 Billion in products to and from the largest and richest consumer market in the world. SANYNJ negotiates the collective bargaining agreement with the International Longshoremen’s Association and the Port Police and Guards Union. For more information about SANYNJ please visit sanynj.org and follow them on X @NYSANEWS 

About Circulate NJ: Circulate NJ is a wide-ranging coalition that seeks to inform and educate the public on the numerous benefits of the logistics industry through hard data and specific examples. Circulate NJ looks to have productive conversations with residents and stakeholders so that, together, we can continue to be the life force of the state’s economy. For more information on Circulate NJ, please visit circulatenj.com.