The unemployment rates in South Jersey are higher than the unemployment rates for the United States as a whole. However, even with a higher unemployment rate, it seems as though the area is doing well when it comes to employment, as there are signs that more jobs are being created and more people are finding work in South Jersey. The unemployment rate for the entire country is at just about 8.1 percent but in South Jersey, the percentage is much higher. For example, in Atlantic County, the current jobless rate is 13.2 percent and it is even higher in Cape May County, at a high of 15.2 percent. Other counties in South Jersey are also dealing with higher than average unemployment rates, which have been provided by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Even though the unemployment rates in South Jersey seem to be improving at the pace of a snail, there have been quite a few employment gains. In fact, within the past three months of 2012, Cape May County has taken the lead for creating new jobs and helping more people find work. During the month of March, nearly 3,600 jobs were added, along with nearly 4,000 jobs added during the month of February. History shows that job growth in the Cape May County area will usually decline during the month of January. However, job growth is happening and it even if it is slow, it does mean that there is hope for the people living in the area, especially those who are out of work and seeking employment.

Many of the jobs that were created in Cape May were in the leisure and hospitality sector, along with the trade and transportation sector. There has also been an increase in jobs within the education and health sector as well. Many different associations in the area are currently hiring, which is good news for residents of Cape May County.

For Atlantic County, there has been a growing trend of more jobs being made available than there were within the same timeframe during the previous year. Many of the different casinos in the Atlantic City area are now hiring as well, which provides more employment opportunities for the residents living in the area. Many of the positions that are being offered are permanent positions and are not just seasonal or short-term. This is a good thing, as many residents of Atlantic County are looking for a job that they can hold onto. A lot of the jobs that are being made available are actually taking place within the hospitality sector, and a lot of that comes from the tourists who come to Atlantic County to gamble and go to the beach.