Republicans seize on higher unemployment rate while Dems point to private sector growth

The uptick in the state’s unemployment rate from 9.3% to 9.7% in August -- matching the national rate – became further fodder for Republicans to use against Gov. Corzine today, although Democrats countered the criticism by pointing to private sector job growth.

Republican State Chairman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains), an assemblyman, pinned the blame squarely on the Govenror, saying he “tries to shift the blame for his failures onto anyone but himself.”

“Governor Corzine needs to take responsibility for the highest unemployment in 32 years, and the pain he has caused millions of New Jerseyans,” he said.

New Jersey added 2,900 private sector jobs in August and lost 2,100 from the public sector, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) reported today.  But the LWD cut its private sector job growth estimates from July in half, showing a gain of 5,600 rather than the originally touted 13,000.  Webber seized on that, calling the original estimate a “complete fabrication.”  

“Governor Corzine and [LWD Commissioner David Socolow] must explain why their claims of last month, which came at a time when the Governor's campaign was hemorrhaging badly, were so wildly skewed to the benefit of the Governor and his re-election campaign,” he said.

But Democrats latched on to that private sector growth number.  

Without naming names, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) attempted to use today’s numbers to turn the tables on Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie, who has called for a reduction in government jobs.

“It’s fascinating to note how the naysayers – those who have done nothing to create a job nor offered any real solutions to the global crisis – are now criticizing private sector job growth and the streamlining of government jobs,” he said.    “Apparently, they would rather struggling private businesses and bloated government payrolls. That would not serve New Jersey taxpayers, but that’s seemingly their wish."

The Corzine campaign calculated their own numbers, saying that Christie's proposed government worker layoffs and rejection of stimulus funds would drive the unemployment rate even higher. 

"Christie has no plan for economic growth and, given this backdrop, he has no standing to attack New Jersey's unemployment rate," said Corzine campaign Communications Director Sean Darcy.