Unemployment measures the relative distribution of economic well-being in an economy. When unemployment is low, many people who want to work have jobs and are earning wages, thus enabling them to consume goods and services. In contrast, if unemployment is high, fewer people are earning wages, and are not purchasing or consuming the goods and services they desire. Employment data provides a surrogate measure of household wealth. The data presented in the New Jersey Data Book is provided by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Planning and Analysis as of March, and derived from The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census.