Middlesex County, NJ jobs, unemployment and layoffs
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Show me jobs near meMiddlesex County economy
4.2%
unemployment, Sep 2026
5.8% the month before
458,606
in the labor force
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
861,535
people in Middlesex County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$109,028
median household income
Source: Census ACS
49%
of workers in white-collar occupations
Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS
Where Middlesex County ranks
Where Middlesex County placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #11Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Northeast27% · of 100
- #12Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Northeast−1.6 points · of 97
- #12Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Mid-Atlantic−1.6 points · of 97
- #17Counties where unemployment fell the most−1.6 points · of 100
- #19Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Mid-Atlantic27% · of 100
- #25Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in the Northeast49% · of 100
Middlesex County outlook: Steady
Built from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census figures. It describes the area, not any one employer in it.
- Private-sector jobs down 0.5% from 2022 to 2025
- Population up 2.6% from 2020 to 2025
- Unemployment 4.2%, down 1.6 points from a year ago
- Sectors adding the most jobs: health care (+9,033 jobs), finance & insurance (+1,522 jobs)
- Sectors losing the most jobs: admin & staffing (−9,708 jobs), retail (−2,376 jobs)
Local job-market news
Recent headlines about layoffs, AI and jobs in Middlesex County. Each link goes to the publisher.
- Popular ramen chain shuts Freehold and Quakerbridge Mall spots this OctoberNew Jersey 101.5 · Oct 12, 2026
Learn and get funded in Middlesex County
- Which AI skills each kind of job asks for, with the pay premium.
- Your local workforce board and American Job Centers: training vouchers and re-employment help.
- Grants and funding for job seekers, ranked for your state and situation.
- Unemployment benefits by state, if you are between jobs.
Middlesex County layoffs
6
Layoff notices, last 12 months
563
workers named
A floor: states may leave out counts
4
employers
| Notice date | Employer | City or county | Workers | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banker Steel, a Division of Schuff SteelTakes effect Dec 14, 2026 | South Plainfield | 115 | — | State record | |
| Novo NordiskTakes effect Dec 31, 2026 | Plainsboro | 108 | — | State record | |
| Johnson & JohnsonTakes effect Dec 18, 2026 | New Brunswick | 88 | — | State record | |
| Johnson & JohnsonTakes effect Dec 18, 2026 | New Brunswick | 87 | — | State record | |
| Fusion Transport LLCTakes effect Oct 1, 2026 | Piscataway | 79 | — | State record | |
| Johnson & JohnsonTakes effect Aug 21, 2026 | New Brunswick | 86 | — | State record |
Employers hiring most in Middlesex County
Employers with the most open professional roles in this county’s cities. The county is taken from each job’s city, so roles with no city are not counted.
- Colgate Palmolive47 open roles
- Hackensack Meridian Health33 open roles
- Novo Nordisk20 open roles
- Amneal Pharmaceuticals18 open roles
- Plymouth Rock Assurance18 open roles
- CLS Group17 open roles
- Provident Bank17 open roles
- Amazon13 open roles
- Bessemer Trust Company, National Association13 open roles
- Element Solutions10 open roles
Largest employers headquartered in Middlesex County
- Johnson & Johnsonabout 136,000 employees (2021)
- BASF Corporation100,000+ employees
- BJs RESTAURANTS20,001–100,000 employees
Employee counts with a year are published figures (Wikidata). Other sizes are estimates from our company directory, not payroll counts.
Colleges in Middlesex County
| College | City | Type | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick | Public 4-year | 20,000+ |
| New Brunswick Theological Seminary | New Brunswick | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Rabbi Jacob Joseph School | Edison | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
Workforce development and job centers
The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving Middlesex County. They offer free help with job search, training and filing for benefits.
Laid off in New Jersey? How to file for unemployment in New Jersey (steps, weekly amount and the appeal deadline).
Middlesex County One-Stop Career Center - New Brunswick
New Brunswick · Comprehensive · 732-937-6200
8:30-4:30 Monday - Friday In - person and/or virtual services available
Middlesex County One Stop Career Center
Perth Amboy · Comprehensive · 732-293-5016
8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday
Cities in Middlesex County
Other New Jersey counties
Laid off or looking for work in Middlesex County?
See what to do first and the jobs open near you.
See your options after a layoffSources: Census Bureau and BLS (county unemployment is not seasonally adjusted); layoff notices from New Jersey’s published record; job counts from our live job board; IPEDS for colleges; CareerOneStop for workforce boards and job centers. New Jersey unemployment benefits and severance rules.
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