Camden leaders are highlighting recently announced stats that show the unemployment rates for the county and city at their lowest levels ever in the month of September.

The Nov. 2 report from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported the City of Camden’s unemployment rate at 5.5%, while Camden County’s checked in at 3%.

The numbers are a far from cry and marked improvement from the height of the pandemic when those figures swelled to 22% in the city and 16.2% for the county. It also reverses the 2017 misfortune of being cited by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics as having the highest unemployment growth rate in the nation.

“The number of residents gainfully employed right now is record breaking in the city and the county,” said Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “To think where we were as a community just two short years ago, from watching neighbors, friends and family members lose jobs during the pandemic to a tremendous resurgence of the job market over the last year. It’s hard to believe we are in this new normal.”

Camden City Mayor Victor Carstarphen attributed the record low numbers to increased investment in the city, such as the recently announced $2 billion Cooper University Health Care expansion, reported on by NJBIZ.

Since 2013, more than 40 corporations have expanded their operations in Camden County.

“The decreasing unemployment rate is a positive indicator that Camden has rebounded from the pandemic and is making tremendous progress,” said Carstarphen. “The city is consistently exceeding expectations, especially as it relates to our revitalization. Thanks to local employment efforts by the eds and meds, corporate partners, the small business community, and nonprofits, we are achieving record lows in unemployment.”

Christina Renna, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, agrees that increased economic development in the area has had a significant benefit to employment gains and labor growth.

“We are seeing a lot of positive economic indicators in Camden County from residential expansion to new commercial and industrial growth that has added billions in new tax rateables,” said Renna. “In addition, this development has created more access and opportunity to new and existing jobs throughout the region creating a significant benefit to the local workforce.”

“Camden is experiencing sustained growth and it’s been the result of extraordinary teamwork,” said Carstarphen. “All our partners are working collectively to improve the quality of life across Camden.”