By: Ty Hyderally, Esq, Francine Foner, Esq.

April 11, 2025

New Jersey federal employees who have recently been laid off may find some solace in the New Jersey Department of Labor’s (NJDOL) recent implementation of special resources to assist with finding new employment.  According to a press release issued by the office of Governor Phil Murphy, in response to “the unprecedented recent increase in layoffs of federal government workers,”  the NJDOL is offering  laid off federal employees in New Jersey with “direct assistance, as well as job upskilling and career seeker services like interview preparation tools.”

According to the recent Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 50,000 federal employees work in New Jersey. (https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562025/approved/20250303a.shtml).  While the exact number of federal employees who have filed unemployment claims in the first quarter of 2025 is not reportable, the NJDOL has confirmed that the number of such claims has recently increased, with hundreds of federal employees applying for unemployment benefits, including the highest single day of federal employees claims filed since the recent sweeping federal terminations began.  Id.

As Governor Murphy remarked “Here in New Jersey, we value our public servants and aim to empower them with the skills and resources needed to best serve the people of our nation. As federal employees around the country navigate rapid changes and uncertainty, I am proud that we are providing accessible unemployment and career assistance to help our workers get back on the path to success.”

Such sentiments were also echoed by NJDOL Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo, who explained that “As a former federal employee who had to file for unemployment, I know how difficult this period of unexpected transition must be for workers who have dedicated their careers to public service. Our department stands ready to help valued civil service employees who call New Jersey home receive the unemployment benefits they have earned and career support services they need to find the meaningful work they deserve.”

Resources offered by the NJDOL for federal employees who have been laid off include online training and career exploration tools such as “My Career NJ,” which is a new interactive digital hub that provides personalized career resources training programs, thousands of online classes, and career recommendations catered to the employee’s particular skills and goals. In addition, the New Jersey’s One Stop Career Centers provide in-person guidance and support from qualified employment counselors.

If you are a recently laid off federal employee whose official duty station was located in New Jersey and are a current New Jersey resident whose official duty station was located outside the United States, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits.

You can access information about applying for unemployment benefits and eligibility at:   http://MyUnemployment.nj.gov/federal.   In addition, resources for impacted federal workers can be found at: https://www.nj.gov/labor/myunemployment/help/resources-support/.

If you have any questions regarding your rights as an employee, you should seek out an experienced attorney who concentrates in employment law. Our firm has been concentrating in employment law for over twenty-two (22) years!

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