12,200 jobs added in May; jobless rate stays at 6.5 percent

New data show New Jersey added 12,200 jobs in May and the unemployment rate remained at 6.5 percent.
Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released Thursday show New Jersey's workforce remains above the 4 million mark. The state surpassed the threshold for the first time since 2008 in April.
The state's labor participation rate also ticked up slightly in May to 64.3 percent, up from 64.2 percent last month. That's above the national rate of 62.9 percent.
Still New Jersey's unemployment rate is higher than the federal rate of 5.5 percent for May.
Gov. Chris Christie pointed out in a statement the state has created 198,000 private sector jobs since he took office in 2010.
Christie is considering running for the Republican nomination for president and could announce a decision soon.