The job market so far this year in New Jersey has been “a mixed bag — overall, relatively weak,” said Will Irving with the Rutgers University New Jersey State Policy Lab. “We are through July down about 7,800 jobs, net, and that reflects losses in both a number of private-sector industries and public sector, state government in particular.”
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Evaluating Policies that Serve New Jersey
Working with more than 180 faculty members and staff, 100 students, and experts from more than 20 centers, schools, and universities across New Jersey, the New Jersey State Policy Lab has launched more than 60 research projects and published over 350 research blogs and 50 reports since 2021.
One of its key objectives has been to establish a network of scholars and research centers within New Jersey institutions of higher education to coordinate state policy research and facilitate collaboration. The NJSPL has forged connections with dozens of universities, schools, and centers within the Garden State and beyond. Its guiding mission is to identify and respond to state government and community needs for effective policy solutions through firsthand research and coordination with relevant experts across the state.
NJSPL: Breast Cancer Outcomes for Black Women
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death due to cancer in New Jersey, and recent research has determined that this form of cancer disproportionately affects the mortality outcomes for Black women, as they are 40% more likely to die due to breast cancer compared to Non-Hispanic White women.
NJSPL: The Trouble with Neighborhood Trash
Communities must be willing to address disparities in their policies, budgets, and priorities in order to address equal access to sanitation infrastructure, fair enforcement of polluting laws, and other waste-related decisions. Because clean streets shouldn’t be a luxury. They should be the baseline, no matter your zip code.
Here’s what NJ’s latest economic data indicates
Rutgers professor Will Irving was less sanguine about the office market and the state’s economy. With respect to a hard or soft landing, he said, “it’s still a landing, and the landing that we’re seeing in New Jersey is a little ahead and a little harder than we’re seeing elsewhere.”
NJSPL Summer Intern Presentation Videos
Last week, the New Jersey State Policy Lab’s most recent cohort of summer interns presented on their respective areas of public policy research on August 6th, and the recordings of these presentations are now available.
NJSPL Report: Supporting Aging in Place in New Jersey
Our key findings indicate that the model faces significant regulatory, labor market, and financial challenges. These challenges prevented the ALPs from growing in the past decade, resulting in many older low-income New Jerseyans remaining underserved.
NJSPL: How E-Bikes Could Bridge the Healthcare Gap
E-bikes offer a promising alternative solution for individuals to access healthcare more easily, including reaching preferred providers. Researchers’ analysis found that, with an e-bike, nearly every census tract can reach at least one primary care physician within 30 minutes.
Report Release: R/ECON Forecast Summer 2025
R/ECON’s economic forecast for New Jersey as of mid-2025 continues to show a slowing trajectory. Annual GDP growth is projected at just 0.5% for 2025, significantly lower than prior forecasts and markedly below the national rate of 1.5%. The Garden State’s real estate market shows tentative signs of stabilization, though persistently elevated mortgage rates and high home prices continue to limit the strength of the rebound. Nationally, tariff increases are expected to put upward pressure on prices, with inflation projected to reach 3.7% in the second quarter of 2026.
NJSPL: Report of Child Well-Being in New Jersey
New Jersey has ranked 7th in the nation for overall child well-being, according to latest data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The foundation has released their 36th Kids Count Data Book, which assesses child well-being in all 50 states using key indicators organized into categories which include education, health, economic well-being, and family and community.