TRENTON – In response to the unprecedented recent increase in layoffs of federal government workers, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) is providing impacted federal employees in New Jersey with direct assistance, as well as job upskilling and career seeker services like interview preparation tools.?

“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,” said Governor Murphy. “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.”

"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,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. "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."? 

New Jersey's labor force includes approximately 50,000 federal employees, according to the most recent Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While BLS policy prevents NJDOL from releasing data specific to recent unemployment data, the Department has seen an increase in federal employees applying for unemployment benefits, including the highest single day of federal employee claims filed since the recent terminations began. 

New Jersey's labor force includes approximately 50,000 federal employees, according to the most recent Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). To date, the department has received claims from hundreds of federal employees applying for unemployment benefits.

Federal employees may be eligible for unemployment benefits if:? 

• Their official duty station was located in New Jersey 
• They are a current New Jersey resident, and their official duty station was outside the United States

Information about applying for unemployment benefits and eligibility may be found at http://MyUnemployment.nj.gov/federal.?

NJDOL continues to innovate its offerings to make benefits and support programs easier to access for New Jersey workers. Last year, NJDOL worked alongside the New Jersey Office of Innovation and the New Jersey Office of Information Technology to engage with unemployment claimants to create a new unemployment application system that meets the needs of residents and can be adapted to quickly address future challenges. The newly unveiled online Unemployment Insurance (UI) initial application was completely remodeled in partnership with dedicated federal employees at the United States Department of Labor and the United States Digital Service with the goal of improving user accessibility. 

Changes to the personalized claimant portal that allow federal claimants to apply for Unemployment Insurance include:? 

• A way for federal claimants to access the new claimant portal for their status, next steps, amount remaining of total possible benefit, etc.
• Information on how claimants can access their federal SF-8 and SF-50 forms (e.g., where claimants can find these forms, these forms are given to claimants by their federal employers on separation)? 
• A way for claimants to report information specific to a federal employer (mainly associated with their SF-50 and SF-8 forms)? 
• A way for claimants to review their federal employer information before they submit?their application for benefits
• Information on how to submit the SF-8 and SF-50 document to NJ
• A way for federal claimants to view updates to their claim status when they revisit the claimant portal

Additionally, the Department wants to remind those impacted by the federal layoffs of its jobseeker resources, including online training and career exploration tools. Last year, NJDOL launched My Career NJ, a new, interactive digital hub – accessible in English and Spanish – that provides personalized career resources. Users can take advantage of valuable training programs; thousands of online classes for upskilling; and career recommendations that fit their unique skills and aspirations. ? 
In-person services are also available for jobseekers at New Jersey's One-Stop Career Centers, which are staffed with qualified employment counselors to provide guidance and support.? 

Additional resources for impacted federal workers can be found here: https://www.nj.gov/labor/myunemployment/help/resources-support/