Like the broader U.S., New Jersey is likely to finish the year with notably stronger GDP growth than forecast earlier, though growth is projected to decline to 0.8% in 2026, before rebounding modestly to 1% the following year.
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New Jersey State Policy Lab
Older New Jersey residents say cost of living, taxes among challenges for aging in New Jersey
“A projected tipping point is less than a decade away, when residents over the age of 65 are expected to outnumber the number of students in our classrooms,” the report’s summary said.
Report: Economic Challenges for Older New Jersey Residents
According to the NJAAW survey, 53% of respondents reported finances as a top concern, and only 38% felt they had saved enough for retirement. Additionally, survey respondents indicated that housing costs were another top concern, with 42% reporting that house upkeep is a financial struggle.
NJSPL: Electricity Bills and AI Data Centers
Considering the impact of AI on electricity bills, data centers in the Northeast could be part of the problem.
What to know as more NJ workers can benefit from paid family leave
“The enrollment of paid family leave is increasing for both fathers and mothers, and parents are more likely to take paid family leave when a mandatory paid family leave policy is available,” reads an October 2025 report by Andrea Hall and Slawa Rokicki, two researchers at the New Jersey State Policy Lab at Rutgers University.
NJSPL: Safer E-Biking and Understanding Micromobility
As e-bikes and other micromobility devices have become increasingly popular to use on New Jersey’s sidewalks and streets, it is increasingly important for young users and their guardians to be equipped with the information and resources necessary to ride safely. Researchers with the Voorhees Transportation Center partnered with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to develop a Micromobility Guide and elaborate on various strategies to improve safer e-bike riding.
NJSPL Report: Investor Acquisition of Residential Properties
Corporate ownership of single-family homes and other small residential properties has drawn growing concern from housing advocates and policymakers in New Jersey and nationally. Between 2012 and 2022, corporate ownership of 1–4-unit residential properties more than doubled in the Garden State.
NJSPL: The Healthcare Affordability Crisis in NJ and Nationally
Nationally, and in New Jersey, healthcare spending accounts for 1 in 5 dollars of gross domestic product, with hospital care representing the largest category of healthcare spending. In order to address this ongoing affordability crisis, researchers recommend that the incoming gubernatorial administration continue to build on the work of the New Jersey Health Care Afforability, Responsibility, and Transparency (HART) Program.
NJSPL Report: Equity Initiatives in the United States
In New Jersey, the state government proactively advances equity through the Office of Equity within the Office of the Governor, as well as through various programs and budget initiatives intended to support New Jerseyans. To enhance these efforts, researchers recommend incorporating equity measures into department/agency performance assessments to ensure equity is engrained within the ongoing routines of the government.
NJSPL Report: Health Insurance Literacy Initiatives
Researchers with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, in collaboration with the New Jersey State Policy Lab, have developed a report which is intended to serve as the first comprehensive state-by-state guide of health insurance literacy educational resources and/or interventions available across the U.S.