NJ jobs: Unemployment rate falls to 17-year low; who is hiring?

Michael L. Diamond | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Founders & Funders: New Jersey looks for the next big thing Mike Glaicar, founder of TrueConnect in Holmdel, met with potential investors and made his best pitch as part of Founders & Funders.

New Jersey added 17,400 jobs in October, helping the unemployment rate tick down to a 17-year low of 4.1 percent, the state Department of Labor and Workforce said Thursday.

The job gains were led by the state's booming transportation and warehouse sector. But they were spread throughout the economy, making it more difficult for employers to fill openings.

"It’s a true war for talent right now in the engineering and architecture industry," said Rich Humann, president and chief executive officer of H2M, a Melville, New York-based company that is expanding fast in New Jersey.

"I could hire 50 people tomorrow," he said. "I could hire 50 people today. It's difficult to find the right talent."

The monthly report includes a survey of employers to measure the number of jobs and a survey of households to measure the unemployment rate. It is a preliminary look that will be revised next month and again next year.

But the first glance at October showed New Jersey outpaced even the nation's strong showing, putting the state's growth rate of 1.7 percent back in line with the U.S.

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"It has been the same story this year," said Nicol Nicola, an economist from Howell. "It's more perception that people believe things will continue to do well. As long as they believe things will do well, they’ll spend and businesses will hire.”

Nicola said two sectors stood out. The trade, transportation and warehousing sector, fueled by the growth in e-commerce, added 5,000 jobs. And leisure and hospitality, aided by sports betting and new Atlantic City casinos, added 3,700 jobs.

Another bright spot was professional and business services, which typically include high-paying jobs. It added 4,400 jobs.

Not everything is rosy. Financial activities lost 700 jobs, information lost 400 jobs, and construction was flat.

And economists have seen warning signs that the expansion might be slowing. The stock market this year has leveled off since the beginning of the year, and interest rates have risen.

But employers such as H2M are trying to figure out how to find the talent they need to keep up with their orders.

The engineering firm has grown the past five years from 220 workers to 415, including 60 who work at its New Jersey offices in Howell and Parsippany. And it is recruiting to hire more by reaching out on social media and leaning on employees for referrals, Humann said.

The labor shortage is putting a strain on its operations.

"It has reached the point that you can’t do as many projects," Humann said. "You don’t have the resources for all the things you try to do.”

Who's hiring?

1.H2M, Howell

What the employer does: Engineering, architecture, environmental consulting.

Position: Civil engineer

Pay range: N/A. Civil engineers in New Jersey on average make $76,500 a year, according to Glassdoor.com.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or closely related discipline; strong computer skills in AutoCAD and Civil 3D, Autoturn, Excel, and Photoshop; five to seven years civil design experience with a specific focus on the site development projects.

Other desirable skills: Self-motivated, capable of working independently or within teams; effective communication skills.

For more information: Go to h2m.com/careers

2. Days Hotel, Toms River

What the employer does: Hotel operator.

Position: Front desk representative.

Pay range: N/A. Front desk representatives in New Jersey make on average $10 to $15 an hour, according to Glassdoor.com.

Qualifications: One-year experience preferred. Work flexible hours, including nights, weekends and holidays. Excellent communication skills in a highly visible role.

Other desirable skills: Collaborate with fellow team members and other hotel departments to promote a positive work environment.

For more information: Go to hotelsunlimited/careers

3. Atlantic Medical Imaging, Brick

What the employer does: Diagnostic imaging services.

Position: CT technologist

Pay range: N/A. Technologists in New Jersey average $70,012 a year, according to Glassdoor.com.

Qualifications: Graduate of accredited Radiologic Technology program with current New Jersey license; two years prior experience; proficiency in cross-sectional anatomy.

Other desirable skills: Demonstrate high ethical standards; treat customers with dignity, kindness and respect.

For more information: Go to www.atlanticmedicalimaging.com/content/employment-ami.

Michael L. Diamond; @mdiamondapp; 732-643-4038; mdiamond@gannettnj.com