Christie touts increase in jobs, reiterates call for N.J. tax cut

Gov. Chris Christie is trumpeting the latest employment numbers in New Jersey.

Employers in the Garden State added 17,600 jobs in May, the governor said Thursday.

“The best month of job growth in over seven years,” he said. “Twenty-five percent of all the jobs created in the country created here in New Jersey. In one state out of 50, 25 percent of the job creation.”

In light of the rosier jobs picture, Christie is calling on the Legislature to include a tax cut as part of any budget package.

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“The Legislature has less than three weeks to act and bring relief to the most overtaxed people in the nation. The time for excuses is over,” he said.

Even with the job gains, New Jersey’s unemployment rate edged up a 10th of a point last month to 9.2 percent.

Christie is putting a positive spin on that increase, saying out-of-work residents are regaining their confidence and are re-entering the labor market because they’re more optimistic about finding jobs.

The leisure and hospitality industry showed the most gains last month, adding 9,900 jobs, with a greater than expected seasonal gain and hiring at the new Revel resort in Atlantic City.

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