New Jersey is bigger than ever before. New U.S. Census Bureau data shows that the state is growing rapidly. According to the latest estimates, NJ is home to an estimated 9,500,851 people. This 1.3% year-over-year growth makes it the fastest growing state in the Northeast and breaks a state population record.
According to New Jersey’s Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the state not only leads the Northeast in growth, it lands 10th nationwide and ranks 11th in the United States for total population. Since April 2020, the state has seen a 2.3% population increase. That’s 211,837 more people who now call New Jersey home.
[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]
This jump gave Governor Murphy an opportunity in his State of the State address to take a swipe at United Van Lines whose surveys show New Jersey residents packing up and leaving the state. “Apparently, there are far more moving vans coming into New Jersey than leaving,” quipped Murphy.
Overall U.S. population climbed 1% year over year, passing 340 million. This is the biggest population leap the country has made since 2001 and a huge jump from 2021’s record low increase of 0.2%. Net international immigration is driving the current growth both in New Jersey and across the country.
According to the Asbury Park Press, more people leave New Jersey than move here from other states, but this loss is eclipsed by a gain of 327,188 international immigrants since 2020. The state has about 2.3 million immigrants, totaling nearly one quarter of the state’s population. The national rate is currently 14.3%, according to government data.
[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]
Population growth can impact a state in many ways, including strains on infrastructure, federal funding, the environment, the housing market, and perhaps most importantly, the job market. However, the NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development remains bullish and points to jobs figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for November 2024, that show 4,391,600 jobs in New Jersey and 284,200 employers according to the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
“We currently have more jobs and employers than at any other time in the Garden State’s history,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “We’re proud that over 9.5 million people now call the Garden State home, and our total number of jobs is 4.4 million strong and growing. We also have the largest number of employers in our state’s history. It’s clear — Governor Murphy’s stronger, fairer economy has made New Jersey the best state in the Northeast to live, work and do business in.”
Governor Murphy echoed this sentiment, “We are incredibly proud to see that New Jersey is among the top 10 states for population growth. We are also thrilled to have reached our largest number of jobs and employers in Garden State history. This Census data is a testament to the important work being done each and every day across the Administration to support our workers and continue building a stronger, fairer New Jersey.”
