COVID-19 brought to light the disparities among the nursing workforce that have been simmering in our health care system and highlighted the need for nurses to access emotional well-being programs with the intention of reducing emotional distress and burnout. In recognition of National Nurses Week, researchers have published a new report examining the findings from a study administered to NJ nurses who participated in the emotional support Virtual Schwartz Rounds (VSR) online sessions.
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New Jersey State Policy Lab Annual Report
In celebration of our fourth birthday, we are all excited to announce the release of our first official annual report, which represents a mere snapshot the wealth of work, research, and collaboration we have accomplished.
NJSPL – Implications of The E-Bike Boom for New Jersey
E-bikes are particularly important for low-income individuals, those with disabilities, those without access to a driver’s license or in carless households, and residents in transit deserts.
Checking In on NJ’s Income and Housing Cost Rankings
While housing costs in New Jersey continue to be among the highest in the nation, the state growth rate of 4.8% for median owner costs for housing with a mortgage was among the slowest in the country (43rd) and well below the national rate of 7.2%.
Faculty Contribute to Wealth Disparity Task Force Report
Last week, in commemoration of Black History Month, Gov. Phil Murphy and Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way announced the release of the state’s Wealth Disparity Task Force report, “New Jersey – Building a State of Opportunity: A Report of the Wealth Disparity Task Force to Close Opportunity Gaps and Repair Structural Disparities.”
NJSPL: Affordable Housing Database for Older Adults in NJ
A collaboration between the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the Rutgers Hub for Aging Collaboration addressed this gap by compiling a census of all housing apartments available for older adults with low income. The census is available to the public to view here and includes a searchable database and an interactive map of New Jersey, representing existing and potential assisted living program sites throughout the state.
NJSPL: Ensuring Accurate & Equitable Vaccination Info
The study evaluated the accuracy, readability, and understandability of vaccination information from ChatGPT and the CDC in both English and Spanish. This is critical as previous evaluations have mostly focused on English, overlooking the needs of non-English speakers in the U.S. We compared responses to common vaccination-related questions using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Report Release: R/ECON Forecast Winter 2025
R/ECON’s economic forecast for New Jersey as 2024 drew to a close once again shows a slowing trajectory, with annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2025 projected to slow more sharply than in the prior forecast.
NJSPL: Key Insights on NJ College Completion
In December 2024, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center released a report on credential attainment among college students nationwide[1]. The six-year completion rate in New Jersey continued its upward trajectory, with the 2018 cohort achieving a completion rate of 61%, representing a 0.9 percentage point gain from the previous cohort.
NJSPL: New Jersey Policy Priorities Survey Results
The survey presented 23 policy issues for participants to consider. Housing emerged as the top concern, with more than half of respondents identifying it as the highest priority for New Jersey