New Jersey's unemployment rate hit 9.7 percent Wednesday, which is a 33-year high for the state.

Experts say, though many unemployed residents are counted, the unemployment rate is based only on a phone survey of households and is liable to leave out many unemployed workers, especially those who may not be seeking work.

Polls show jobs are the number one issue among New Jersey voters. Gov. Jon Corzine says private sector jobs increased in August for the second consecutive month.

Wednesday's report shows since December 2007, New Jersey has lost 155,700 jobs.

AP wire services contributed to this article.