State Democrats Job Growth - For State Workers

From today's Trentonian:

"Total non-farm employment advanced by 1,400 jobs in October to reach a seasonably adjusted level of 4,107,700, a record high level" said the report.

Sounds great. New jobs are always a good thing and I am not one of those people who quibble over the quality of the new jobs. Solid opportunities for people to earn is valuable from the local hard working people at the fast food restaurant all the way to new office buildings in Princeton. However, there appears to be another side to the story:

But the GOP lawmakers say the picture isn't as rosy as it sounds. "The private sector is experiencing a net loss, so that's a problem" Haines said.

Kyrillos said the fact that 86 percent of the new jobs are in the public sector shows "New Jersey continues to lag in the creation of private sector jobs"

The issue here isn't really what the two parties are quibbling about. It is really that for a state with a looming 4 billion dollar budget deficit, is it really prudent to be adding public sector jobs.

The New Jersey Department of labor list job growth in the public sector from 2001-2006 at an increase of 57,800 jobs. In the private sector is was just 3,700 jobs. That doesn't include the new report so the 3,700 jobs is lower when including 2007. Keep something in mind. The Corzine administration makes a habit of promoting dubious good news or alleged fiscal cuts right before they propose raising taxes. Not sure what their latest idea will be this week but you can be sure it will include more money from your pocket.

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