Northern Regional

Community Fact Book

Sussex County Edition

New Jersey Department of Labor

and Workforce Development

Division of Labor Market and

Demographic Research

June 2006
 Preface

T he Regional Community Fact Book for Sussex County provides a

snapshot of its people and its economy. Included are facts and fig-
ures on current industry trends, population, unemployment and income. The
Fact Book also provides a look into the future and provides the latest popu-
lation, labor force, industry and occupational projections.

The Regional Community Fact Book series is meant to be a reference

for use in local and regional economic development planning and for employ-
ment and training providers. Fact Books will be published annually for New
Jersey’s 21 counties, grouped into three regions (northern, central and
southern).

Acknowledgements

T his publication was prepared by James McGarry and Patricia

McKendrick of the Bureau of Labor Market Information, Division
of Labor Market and Demographic Research. Layout was done by Chester S.
Chinsky.

Questions regarding information contained in this publication should be

directed to James McGarry by phone at (973) 648-3866 or by e-mail:
james.mcgarry@dol.state.nj.us.

To obtain copies of this publication or other county editions, please

contact Lester Wright by phone at (609) 292-7567 or by e-mail:
lester.wright @dol.state.nj.us.
 Table of Contents

County Snapshot .................................................................................... 1

Industry Trends, Sussex vs. New Jersey ...................................... 2

Employment ............................................................................................ 5

Employment Gains and Losses ........................................................... 6

Wages ...................................................................................................... 7

Per Capita Personal Income ............................................................... 8

Unemployment Rates ........................................................................... 8

Characteristics of the Unemployed ................................................. 9

Population ...............................................................................................10

Population Projections ......................................................................... 11

Industry Projections ...........................................................................12

Projected Occupational Demand.......................................................13

Labor Force Projections .....................................................................14

 County Snapshot
Northern Region
Population (July 1, 2005 estimate): 153,130
Change from Census 2000: +8,960 or + 6.2%
Sussex Passaic Percent of New Jersey Total: 1.8%
Bergen
Total Private Sector
Warren
Morris Employment (2004): 32,800
Essex Percent of New Jersey Total: 1.0%
Change from 1999: +4,700
Hudson
Union
Hunterdon
Largest Industry (2004): Health Care & Social
Assistance
Health Care & Social Assistance Employment: 6,000
Percent of Total County Employment: 18.3%

Private Sector Wage (2004 annual average): $33,619

Percent of New Jersey Average: 70.6%
Change From 1999: +$3,618

Industry With Highest Average Annual

Wage (2004): Utilities: $68,744

Per Capita Personal Income (2004): $39,931

Percent of New Jersey Per Capita Income: 95.9%

Number of Unemployment Insurance Claimants (2005 annual average)

average): 1,328

Unemployment Rate (2005 annual average): 3.8%

5-year High (2003): 5.1%
5-year Low (2001): 3.7%
New Jersey Rate (2005): 4.4%

Building Permits (single-family residential,2005): 666

Rank Among New Jersey Counties: 14

Sussex County Community Fact Book 1

 Industry Trends, Sussex vs. New Jersey
∑ From 1999 to 2004 (latest available), Sussex County’s total private sector employment
increased 16.9 percent. Statewide, employment was up 0.7 percent.

∑ Over the five-year period, notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality (+1,100),
education and health care services (+1,000), trade, transportation and utilities (+900),
and construction (+700). Much of the increase can be attributed to the requirements
of an expanding population.

∑ Employment sectors in the county that have significantly outpaced the state’s growth
since 1999 were construction (+39.8% vs. +15.6%), financial activities (+29.4% vs. +6.1%),
other services (+33.0% vs. +10.7%), and leisure and hospitality (+30.1% vs. +8.5%).

∑ From 1999 to 2004, the percentage of manufacturing jobs lost in Sussex County was
slightly lower than in the state (-14.5% vs. -15.6%). Unlike the state, manufacturing
employment in the county increased (+200) over the most recent reporting period
(2003-2004).

Note: Use of an index facilitates comparison between two separate data elements.

Sussex County and New Jersey Sussex County and New Jersey
Total Private Sector Employment: 1999-2004 Construction Employment: 1999-2004
125 150

120 140

115 130

110 120

105 110

100 100
(1999=100) (1999=100)
95 90
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sussex New Jersey Sussex New Jersey

2 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 Industry Trends, Sussex vs. New Jersey

Sussex County and New Jersey Sussex County and New Jersey
Manufacturing Employment: 1999-2004 Trade, Transportation & Utilities Employment: 1999-2004
110 115

100 110

90 105

80 100

(1999=100) (1999=100)

70 95
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sussex New Jersey Sussex New Jersey

Sussex County and New Jersey Sussex County and New Jersey
Information Employment: 1999-2004 Financial Activities Employment: 1999-2004
120 140

110 130

100 120

90 110

80 100
(1999=100) (1999=100)
70 90
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sussex New Jersey Sussex New Jersey

Sussex County Community Fact Book 3

 Industry Trends, Sussex vs. New Jersey
Sussex County and New Jersey Sussex County and New Jersey
Professional & Business Services Employment: 1999-2004 Education & Health Services Employment: 1999-2004
115 125

120
110
115

105 110

105
100
100
(1999=100) (1999=100)
95 95
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sussex New Jersey Sussex New Jersey

Sussex County and New Jersey Sussex County and New Jersey
Leisure & Hospitality Employment: 1999-2004 Other Services Employment: 1999-2004
140 140

130 130

120 120

110 110

100 100
(1999=100) (1999=100)
90 90
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sussex New Jersey Sussex New Jersey

4 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 Employment

Sussex County
Total Private Sector Employment: 1999 — 2004
38,000

34,000
B
30,000 B B
B B
B
26,000

22,000
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

∑ From 1999 to 2004, total private-sector employment in Sussex County rose by

4,700 or 16.9 percent. The main catalysts for this growth were a growing popula-
tion and an expanding year-round resort industry.

Sussex County
Total Employment by Industry: 1999 & 2004
Construction

Manufacturing

Trade/Transp./Utilities

Information

Financial Activities

Prof./Business Services

Educ./Health Services

Leisure/Hospitality

Other Services

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000

2004 1999

∑ Trade, transportation and utilities was the largest employment sector in the county
and had 24.8 percent of the total employment in 2004. Retail trade employment
made up more than half of this sector’s employment; retail stores usually follow
population expansion. Other sectors with notable employment totals were educa-
tion and health services (6,300), professional and business services and leisure and
hospitality (4,900 each). The information sector was the smallest with 500 jobs.

Sussex County Community Fact Book 5

 Employment Gains and Losses
Sussex County, Private Sector
Net Job Growth by Industry: 1999 — 2004
1,500

1,250

1,000

750

500

250

-250

-500
Construction Manufact- Trade/ Information Financial Prof./ Education/ Leisure/ Other
uring Transport./ Activities Business Health Hospitality Services
Utilities Services Services

∑ The leisure and hospitality (+1,100) and education and health services (+1,000) sec-
tors accounted for almost half of Sussex County’s job growth between 1999 and
2004. The growing resort and health care industries spurred job creation in these
two sectors. The only two significant job losses were in the manufacturing (-400) and
information (-200) sectors. These losses were mainly due to a shrinking factory base
and to cutbacks in the publishing, except Internet, and telecommunications indus-
tries.

Sussex County, Private Sector

Gains, Losses and Net Growth by Industry: 2003
1,000

800

600

400

200

-200

-400
Construction Manufact- Trade/ Information Financial Prof./ Education/ Leisure/ Other
uring Transport./ Activities Business Health Hospitality Services
Utilities Services Services

GAINS LOSSES NET

Source: Local Employment Dynamics (LED) data from the US Census Bureau.

∑ Even with job losses, industries can generate significant numbers of job openings
during a year. In 2003 (latest available), leisure and hospitality generated more than
850 openings. Trade, transportation and utilities created over 500 job openings.

6 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 Wages
Sussex County, Private Sector
Average Annual Wage: 1999 — 2004
$40,000

$35,000
$33,619
$32,971
$31,483 $31,314 $31,857
$30,001
$30,000

$25,000

$20,000
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

∑ Between 1999 and 2004, Sussex County’s annual average wage rose to $33,619, a gain
of 12.1 percent. The largest single-year increase of $1,482 (4.9%) occurred in 2000.
In comparison, the state’s annual wage rose to $47,639 in 2004, up 16.7 percent.

∑ The county’s annual average wage was lower than the state’s because a larger per-
centage of the county’s employment was in industries that historically pay less than
other industries. The two largest were retail trade (16.8 % vs. 14.2%) and leisure and
hospitality (14.8% vs. 9.8%).

Sussex County and New Jersey, Private Sector

Average Annual Wage by Industry: 2004
Total Private Sector

Construction

Manufacturing

Trade/Transp./Utilities

Information

Financial Activities

Prof./Business Services

Education/Health Services

Leisure/Hospitality

Other Services

$0 $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000

Sussex County New Jersey

∑ Workers in the information sector received the highest annual salary ($49,468), fol-
lowed by professional and business services ($46,628) and trade, transportation and
utilities ($43,591). Leisure and hospitality had the lowest salary ($14,433) due to the
seasonal and part-time nature of many of the jobs.

Sussex County Community Fact Book 7

 Per Capita Personal Income
∑ In 2004 (latest available), Sussex had a Sussex County and New Jersey
per capita income of $39,931, ranking it Per Capita Personal Income: 1999 — 2004
$45,000
ten in the state and 104th among the 3,111
counties in the United States. The county’s $40,000 $
per capita income was just 95.9 percent $ $ $
$
of the state average of $41,626, but 120.8 $35,000
$
percent of the national average of
$30,000
$33,050.

$25,000
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

∑ Of the three components of personal in- New Jersey $ Sussex

come, residents of Sussex in 2004 derived
77.8 percent from wage earnings versus
72.5 percent statewide, 12.8 percent from
dividends/interest/rent versus 15.2 per-
cent statewide, and 9.4 percent from
transfer payments (such as welfare ben-
efits, social security and veteran’s ben-
efits) versus 12.3 percent statewide.

Unemployment Rates

Sussex County and New Jersey

∑ Sussex County’s annual average rate of
unemployment was consistently lower than
Unemployment Rate Trends: 1999 — 2005
6.5 the state’s rate from 1999 to 2005. In
6.0
B B 2005, the county’s average unemployment
5.5
rate was 3.8 percent, compared to the

J J state’s rate of 4.4 percent.

5.0
B B
4.5
B B
J ∑ Population growth in Sussex County has
4.0
B J J been accompanied by an increase in the size
3.5 J of the labor force. From 1999 to 2005,
3.0 J the county’s labor force expanded by 4,600
2.5
or 5.9 percent, compared to 3.4 percent
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
for the state.
B New Jersey J Sussex

8 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 Characteristics of the Unemployed

Sussex County
Unemployment Insurance Claimants: 2004-2005
2004 2005
Annual Annual Change 2004-2005
Category Average Average Number Percent
Total Insured Unemployed 1,441 1,328 -113 -7.8
By Gender
Male 850 793 -57 -6.7
Female 591 536 -55 -9.3
By Race
White 1,334 1,230 -104 -7.8
Black 25 21 -4 -16.0
Asian 7 11 4 57.1
Other 76 66 -10 -13.2
By Ethnicity
Hispanic 106 87 -19 -17.9
Not Hispanic 1,264 1,176 -88 -7.0
Chose Not To Answer 71 65 -6 -8.5
By Age of Claimant
Under 25 76 82 6.0 7.9
25 through 34 262 256 -6.0 -2.3
35 through 44 403 372 -31.0 -7.7
45 through 54 363 330 -33.0 -9.1
55 through 64 260 228 -32.0 -12.3
65 and over 76 61 -15.0 -19.7
By Industry
Construction 265 250 -15.0 -5.7
Manufacturing 124 101 -23.0 -18.5
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 320 258 -62.0 -19.4
Wholesale Trade 80 69 -11.0 -13.8
Retail Trade 156 120 -36.0 -23.1
Information 52 38 -14.0 -26.9
Financial Activities 71 67 -4.0 -5.6
Professional and Business Services 202 177 -25.0 -12.4
Educational and Health Services 133 114 -19.0 -14.3
Leisure and Hospitality 110 112 2.0 1.8
Other Services 34 35 1.0 2.9

∑ The number of persons filing for unemployment benefits in Sussex County declined 7.8
percent between 2004 and 2005. By gender, the over-the-year decline was almost
equal with 57 claims for males and 55 for females. The number of claims also fell
among whites by 104 (-7.8%) and in the 45-54 age group by 33 (-9.2%).

∑ Almost every industry sector in the county reported a drop in the number of unem-
ployment claims from 2004 to 2005. The two sectors with the largest reduction were
trade, transportation and utilities (-62) and professional and business services (-25).

Sussex County Community Fact Book 9

 Population
∑ From 1970 to 2005, Sussex County’s popu- Sussex County
lation almost doubled in size, increasing Total Population: 1970 — 2005
175,000
by 75,602 to total 153,130. The county’s
growth rate was more than four times that 150,000
of the state (97.5% vs. 21.6%) and was
second only to Ocean County. A little more 125,000
than half of Sussex’s gain occurred dur-
ing the 1970s. This rapid growth in the 100,000

county was the result of both natural in-

75,000
crement (births minus deaths) and net
migration into the county.
50,000
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005

Sussex County ∑ The 2004 (latest data available by race) ra-

Racial/Hispanic Origin: 2000 - 2004 cial composition of Sussex County remains
Percent Percent predominately white. Whites comprised 95.9
Race 2000 2004 percent of the population compared with 76.9
White 96.9 95.9 percent for the state. Asians accounted for
Black 1.1 1.5 1.7 percent of the population compared with
Asian 1.3 1.7 7.0 percent statewide. Blacks made up 1.5
Multiracial 0.7 0.8 percent in the county, significantly less than
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.1 0.1
the 14.5 percent in the state. Hispanics rep-
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.0 0.0
resented 4.7 percent of the county’s popu-
Total* 100.1 100.0
lation while accounting for 14.9 percent of
Hispanic Origin (may be of any race) 3.4 4.7
* May not add to 100% due to rounding the state’s population.

∑ Since 1970, 11 of Sussex County’s 24 mu- Sussex County

nicipalities more than doubled in size. The Ten Largest Municipalities 2004
fastest growing municipality was Vernon Rank Municipality Population
Township whose population went from 1 Vernon Township 25,553
6,059 in 1970 to 25,553 in 2004, an in- 2 Sparta Township 19,256
creased of 321.7 percent. 3 Hopatcong Township 16,035
4 Wantage Township 11,315
5 Byram Township 8,662
6 NewtonTown 8,382
7 Hardyston Township 7,591
8 Andover Township 6,486
9 Frankford Township 5,660
10 Franklin Township 5,233

10 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 Population Projections
∑ Due to its attractive rural environment and Sussex County
its recreational areas, Sussex County will Population Projections: 2002 — 2012
175,000
continue to attract new residents. The
county’s population is expected to increase 165,000
by 18,600 from 2002 to 2012 and outpace
growth statewide (12.5% vs. 8.1%). Accord- 155,000

ing to the projections, the county’s rate

145,000
of growth between 2002 and 2012 is ex-
pected to be the sixth fastest in the state.
135,000

125,000
2002* 2007** 2012**
*estimate **projection

Sussex County
∑ Sussex County is projected to have a
Projections for Select Age Groups: 2002 — 2012 slightly higher percentage of residents
60,000 than the state in the 45-64 age group
50,000 (30.3% vs. 27.5%). Senior citizens (65
40,000 years and older) are expected to grow
30,000
faster in the county than in the state
(+48.7% vs. +14.3%).
20,000

∑ Like the state, the newborn to 14 and the

10,000

0
0-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65+ 25-44 age groups in the county are antici-
2002* 2012** pated to decline over the period.
*estimate **projection

∑ By 2012, Sussex County’s fastest-growing Sussex County

Projected Population Growth
racial group on a percentage basis is pro- by Race, 2002 - 2012
50
jected to be multi-racial (+41.1%; +437 per-
sons) followed by “other races” (+25.5%; 40
569 persons, includes Asian, American In-
dian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/ 30
Percent

Pacific Islander) and blacks (+16.1%; 305

20
persons). With an increase of 17,414
(+12.1%), whites are projected to add the 10

most persons.
0
White Black Other Races Multi-Racial

Sussex County Community Fact Book 11

 Industry Projections
Sussex County, 2002 - 2012
Ten Industries with the Greatest Employment Growth
Change: 2002-2012
2002 2012 Percent
Industry Title Jobs Jobs Number Total Annual
Ambulatory health care services 1,900 2,950 1,050 54.0 4.2
Professional and technical services 2,300 3,150 850 38.2 3.2
Food services and drinking places 2,800 3,350 550 19.0 1.7
Administrative and support services 1,300 1,700 400 32.5 2.8
Nursing and residential facilities 1,700 2,100 400 24.5 2.2
Speciality trade contractors 1,800 2,150 350 19.5 1.8
Food and beverage stores 1,850 2,150 350 17.7 1.6
Amusements, gambling and recreation 1,350 1,650 350 24.7 2.2
Local government educational services 4,500 4,850 350 7.6 0.7
Membership assoc. and organizations 750 950 200 29.8 2.6

∑ From 2002 to 2012, Sussex County is projected to add 6,700 jobs. The county is
expected to add jobs at a faster rate than the state (17.5% vs. 12.0%).

∑ In the county, almost 73 percent of all new jobs are expected to come from these ten
industries, led by ambulatory health care services (1,050). The projected increase in
this industry, which includes medical and dental offices, outpatient clinics, medical
laboratories, and home health care providers, is due to the anticipated growth in the
county’s population.

Sussex County, 2002 - 2012

Ten Industries with the Greatest Employment Declines
Change: 2002-2012
2002 2012 Percent
Industry Title Jobs Jobs Number Total Annual
Plastics and rubbber products manufacturing 250 200 -50 -16.3 -1.8
Fabricated metal product manufacturing 250 250 -50 -11.3 -1.2
Food manufacturing 150 100 0 -13.4 -1.4
Printing and related support activities 100 100 0 -4.9 -0.5
Machinery manufacturing 100 100 0 -21.4 -2.4
Accommodations 200 200 0 -2.1 -0.2
Gasoline stations 300 250 0 -5.7 -0.6
Telecommunications 200 150 0 -8.6 -0.9
Federal government, excluding postal service 50 50 0 -12.3 -1.3
Local government, excluding hospitals and schools 2,050 2,050 0 -1.2 -0.1

∑ Payrolls in manufacturing industries will decline as companies continue to shift all or

part of their operations out of the county. In contrast, those industries that provide
services to people and to other businesses will add more jobs over the 2002-2012
period.

12 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 Projected Occupational Demand
Sussex County
Occupations With The Most Projected Job Openings, 2002-2012
2004
Annual Average Job Openings Annual Skill
1 2
Occupation Total Growth Replacements Wage Level Outlook
Cashiers 80 20 60 $17,930 Low Good
Retail Salespersons 60 20 40 26,500 Low Good
Child Care Workers 50 30 20 18,140 Low Good
Food Preparation and Serving
Workers, Including Fast Food 40 20 30 17,020 Low Good
Registered Nurses 40 30 20 62,330 High Good
Receptionists & Information Clerks 40 20 10 24,810 Low Good
Waiters and Waitresses 30 10 30 17,250 Low Good
Sales and Related Workers. All Other 30 20 10 48,340 Moderate Good
Ofice Clerks, General 30 10 20 27,530 Low Good
Food Preparation Workers 30 10 20 17,860 Low Good
General & Operations Managers 30 10 10 126,160 High Good
Auditing Clerks 30 0 20 35,380 Low Good
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers 30 0 20 24,120 Low Good
Medical Secretaries 30 20 10 28,540 Moderate Average
Landscaping and
Groundskeeping Workers 20 10 10 24,710 Low Good
Secondary School Teachers, Except
Special and Vocational Education 20 10 20 60,640 High Good
Bus Drivers, School 20 10 10 26,340 Low Average
Licenced Pratical and
Licensed Vocational Nurses 20 10 10 44,680 Moderate Good
Home Health Aides 20 20 0 19,580 Low Good
Middle School Teachers, Except
Special Education and Vocational 20 0 20 54,990 High Good

1. "Growth" and "Replacements" may not add to "Total" due to rounding.

2. High Skills: Associate's degree or higher.

Moderate Skills: Long-term on-the-job training, work experience or post secondary/vocational/technical training.
Low Skills: Short-term or moderate-term on-the-job training, including up to 12 months of on-the-job experience and informal training.

∑ Sussex County is projected to have 1,680 job openings per year through 2012, or 1.1
percent of the statewide annual openings. The county’s top twenty ranked occupations
by annual job openings are anticipated to account for almost 40 percent of all annual
job openings.
∑ Many of the occupations having high replacement needs are likely to require lower
skills and lower wages. Nevertheless, most of these occupations are in demand and
have a good outlook through 2012. In comparison, four of the high skills occupations
listed above are among the occupations with the highest annual wages.

Sussex County Community Fact Book 13

 Labor Force Projections
∑ From 2002 to 2012, the racial composition Sussex County
of Sussex County’s labor force will remain Projected Labor Force Growth
by Race, 2002 - 2012
predominately white. Whites are expected
Black 0.1% Other Races
to make up the majority of the change to 4.1%
the county’s labor force (92.7%). Multi-Racial
3.1%

Note: Multi-racial refers to persons who

are of two or more races. “Other races”
includes Asian, American Indian/Alaska White
Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Is- 92.7%

lander.

Sussex County
∑ There is projected to be more non-His-
Projected Labor Force Growth by panic (75.3%) than Hispanic (24.7%) per-
Hispanic Origin, 2002 - 2012 sons added to Sussex’s labor force over
the 2002-2012 period. The number of His-
panics in the county’s labor force is ex-
Hispanic
pected to almost double, increasing from
24.7%
2,500 in 2002 to 4,900 in 2012.
Non-Hispanic
75.3%

∑ More than half (57.7%) of the change to Sussex County

Sussex County’s labor force will be female Projected Labor Force Growth by
between 2002 and 2012. Statewide, males Gender, 2002 - 2012
will make up the majority (53.0%) of the
change to the labor force. The rate of
growth for females in the county’s labor
force is projected to be 16.1 percent ver- Male
sus 9.6 percent for males. Statewide, the 42.3% 57.7%
Female
growth rate for both sexes is anticipated
to be 10.5 percent.

14 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development