Ocean County, NJ jobs, unemployment and layoffs
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Show me jobs near meOcean County economy
4.0%
unemployment, Sep 2026
5.6% the month before
291,859
in the labor force
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
646,434
people in Ocean County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$86,411
median household income
Source: Census ACS
42%
of workers in white-collar occupations
Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS
Where Ocean County ranks
Where Ocean County placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #3Fastest-growing job markets in the Northeast+9.8% · of 100
- #5Fastest-growing job markets in the Mid-Atlantic+9.8% · of 100
- #13Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Northeast−1.6 points · of 97
- #13Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Mid-Atlantic−1.6 points · of 97
- #18Counties where unemployment fell the most−1.6 points · of 100
Ocean County outlook: Building
Built from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census figures. It describes the area, not any one employer in it.
- Private-sector jobs up 9.8% from 2022 to 2025
- Population up 5.6% from 2020 to 2025
- Unemployment 4.0%, down 1.6 points from a year ago
- Sectors adding the most jobs: health care (+8,660 jobs), private education (+1,367 jobs)
- Sectors losing the most jobs: finance & insurance (−464 jobs)
Local job-market news
Recent headlines about layoffs, AI and jobs in Ocean County. Each link goes to the publisher.
- One McDonald’s is Closing in Jackson, But Two More are Coming to Ocean CountyShore News Network · Oct 8, 2026
Learn and get funded in Ocean 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.
Ocean County layoffs
1
Layoff notices, last 12 months
260
workers named
A floor: states may leave out counts
1
employer
| Notice date | Employer | City or county | Workers | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AccupacTakes effect Aug 3, 2026 | Lakewood | 260 | — | State record |
Employers hiring most in Ocean 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.
- Hackensack Meridian Health6 open roles
- Provident Bank3 open roles
- ACT12 open roles
- ARC Ocean County Chapter2 open roles
- Atrium2 open roles
- First Commerce Bank2 open roles
- Fulton Bank, National Association2 open roles
- Montium2 open roles
- Oorah2 open roles
- Quest Diagnostics2 open roles
Colleges in Ocean County
| College | City | Type | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Medrash Govoha | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | 5,000–9,999 |
| Georgian Court University | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Bais Medrash Mayan Hatorah | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Bais Medrash Toras Chesed | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Beth Medrash of Asbury Park | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Keser Torah-Mayan Hatalmud | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Mosdos Yaakov V'Yisroel | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Rabbinical Seminary Mkor Chaim | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Yeshiva Bais Aharon | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Yeshiva Chemdas Hatorah | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yaakov Yitzchok | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Yeshiva Gedolah of Woodlake Village | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Yeshiva Gedolah Shaarei Shmuel | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Yeshiva Toras Chaim | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Yeshiva Yesodei Hatorah | Lakewood | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
Workforce development and job centers
The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving Ocean 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).
Ocean County One Stop Career Center
Toms River · Comprehensive · 732-286-5616
8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday
Cities in Ocean County
Other New Jersey counties
Laid off or looking for work in Ocean 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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