The figures reflect a weakening in a sector that was already struggling, in part because of the departures of major corporations as well as mergers. Having lost more than 20,000 jobs in 2008 and in 2009, the height of the recession, the professional and business services sector appeared to be rebounding with solid growth in 2010, 2011 and 2012. But the gains slowed dramatically in 2013 and 2014 before the figures turned negative this year.
“It’s not a good trend, to say the least,” said James W. Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, adding that the sector is “pretty key for the office market.”
