Economy

Employers in New Jersey added 17,800 jobs in March, helping push the state’s unemployment rate down by 0.4 percentage points to 4.2%.

State legislators have endorsed a number of bills that attempt to make New Jersey more welcoming for veterans and military spouses, including expanded tax credits for companies that employ them.

The business closures brought on by the pandemic might not be over yet, if the results of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s annual business outlook survey are any indication.

The state Economic Development Authority is adding another $500,000 in aid for small businesses affected by Tropical Storm Henri to the $10 million it will make available to those damaged by Ida.

An unofficial count shows 360 municipalities have opted out of legal marijuana industry and 90 have opted in. But new state rules could sway the reluctant.

For the first time in 10 years, the state will provide funding from its budget to Urban Enterprise Zones. Some benefits will be capped to favor small business.

“It will get worse before it gets better because kids who go to college are going to start peeling off to go to college in a couple weeks,” Gov. Murphy said.

Sweeping changes have already been approved for the seven-year, $14 billion tax incentive programs enacted in January.

At the rate jobs have been added so far in 2021, it would take until the end of 2023 to recover pandemic-era losses. But things might speed up going forward.

State lawmakers have an idea for easing the labor crunch: let kids work overtime this summer.