New Jersey public data
Compare housing permits, unemployment rates, State Aid, and transportation awards across New Jersey's 21 counties.
About the measures
The unemployment rate is the share of the labor force without jobs and looking for work. Housing permits record homes authorized for construction. State Aid is a certified municipal allocation. Local Aid is a transportation award.
Each measure answers a different question. Compare them together, but keep their units and reporting years in mind.
Unemployment
The unemployment rate is the share of the labor force without jobs and actively looking for work. Compare your county's annual rate with New Jersey's.
Mercer County · 2025
5.3% unemployment rateThese figures show changes in unemployment. They do not explain what caused those changes.
Explore the unemployment map →Annual unemployment
| Year | Mercer | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.4% | 5.1% |
| 1991 | 5.7% | 6.8% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | 8.5% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| 1994 | 5.4% | 6.8% |
| 1995 | 5.4% | 6.4% |
| 1996 | 5.6% | 6.1% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | 5.3% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | 4.6% |
| 1999 | 3.8% | 4.4% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | 3.7% |
| 2001 | 3.7% | 4.2% |
| 2002 | 5.3% | 5.8% |
| 2003 | 5.2% | 5.8% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | 4.9% |
| 2005 | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | 4.2% |
| 2008 | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| 2009 | 7.4% | 8.9% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | 9.7% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | 9.4% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | 9.4% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | 8.4% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | 6.7% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | 5.7% |
| 2016 | 4.7% | 4.9% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | 4.0% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 8.0% | 9.5% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | 3.9% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| 2025 | 5.3% | 5.2% |
Building permits
Values per 1,000 residents let you compare counties of different sizes. Select a county on the map to update the rest of the page.
| County | Per 1,000 residents | Population estimate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 | 2024 | final | |
| 2.1 | 2024 | final | |
| 3.7 | 2024 | final | |
| 1.2 | 2024 | final | |
| 7.5 | 2024 | final | |
| 0.6 | 2024 | final | |
| 5.3 | 2024 | final | |
| 2.0 | 2024 | final | |
| 0.8 | 2024 | final | |
| 0.6 | 2024 | final | |
| 4.4 | 2024 | final | |
| 3.8 | 2024 | final | |
| 3.3 | 2024 | final | |
| 3.5 | 2024 | final | |
| 4.2 | 2024 | final | |
| 0.1 | 2024 | final | |
| 2.3 | 2024 | final | |
| 1.1 | 2024 | final | |
| 0.7 | 2024 | final | |
| 3.8 | 2024 | final | |
| 3.1 | 2024 | final |
Public aid
State Aid records certified allocations to municipalities. NJDOT Local Aid records transportation awards. The two measures appear separately.
Municipal State Aid
Uses the 2025 Census population estimate.
Above the New Jersey value.
Aid is assigned to the municipality receiving the certified allocation.
Explore this measure →Transportation awards
Uses the 2025 Census population estimate.
Above the New Jersey value.
Awards are assigned to the government receiving them.
Explore this measure →County summary
Compare Mercer County with the statewide value for each measure. Each source has its own reporting schedule, so the latest year can differ.
Unemployment
Above the New Jersey value.
Rates describe people in their county of residence.
Explore this measure →Housing permits
Uses the 2024 Census population estimate.
Above the New Jersey value.
Permits are assigned to the issuing municipality and added to county totals.
Explore this measure →Municipal State Aid
Uses the 2025 Census population estimate.
Above the New Jersey value.
Aid is assigned to the municipality receiving the certified allocation.
Explore this measure →Transportation awards
Uses the 2025 Census population estimate.
Above the New Jersey value.
Awards are assigned to the government receiving them.
Explore this measure →Continue with Mercer
About the data
The data shows changes over time and differences between counties. It does not show whether public aid caused a change in housing or employment.