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In today’s fast-paced work environment, the presence of unmotivated individuals can be frustrating. Whether it’s the colleague who delegates their responsibilities or one who simply coasts through the workday, such behaviors can impact team morale and productivity.
If you find yourself in one of these New Jersey towns, you may want to reflect on the work culture around you. Our analysis identifies areas in the state where the work ethic might be lacking.
We conducted a thorough examination using the most recent data available from the American Community Survey to pinpoint the towns in New Jersey that exhibit a tendency toward inactivity. By evaluating various criteria related to work engagement, we compiled a list of the “Least Active Places in New Jersey.”
Continue reading to discover where the less active individuals reside or skip to the end to see how your town measures up.
Interestingly, Glen Ridge has emerged as the most industrious area in New Jersey.
How We Identified the Least Active Places in New Jersey
At Zippia, we rely on data to tackle challenging questions. We reviewed the latest American Community Survey to gather insights on community engagement across various New Jersey locations.
For this analysis, we selected criteria that align with inactivity, including:
- Lowest average hours worked
- Shortest commute times
- Fewest workers per household (labor force divided by the number of households)
- Highest unemployment rates
- Lowest percentage of adults with a college degree
This approach leads us to conclude that towns with low educational attainment, minimal workforce participation, and short work hours may reflect a culture of inactivity.
After analyzing data from 191 municipalities in New Jersey with populations over 5,000, we ranked each area. The town with the lowest overall rankings across these criteria was designated the “Least Active Place in New Jersey,” and Wildwood topped the list.
Explore the detailed chart below for insights on each town’s ranking.
1. Wildwood
Population: 5,255 College Educated: 14.9%
Unemployment Rate: 16.9%
2. Salem
Population: 5,045 College Educated: 10.9%
Unemployment Rate: 29.4%
3. Camden
Population: 77,294 College Educated: 8.2%
Unemployment Rate: 22.0%
4. Atlantic City
Population: 39,521 College Educated: 15.6%
Unemployment Rate: 17.4%
5. Penns Grove
Population: 5,082 College Educated: 4.3%
Unemployment Rate: 19.6%
6. Paulsboro
Population: 6,041 College Educated: 10.8%
Unemployment Rate: 20.5%
7. Trenton
Population: 84,459 College Educated: 10.7%
Unemployment Rate: 18.5%
8. Millville
Population: 28,603 College Educated: 15.9%
Unemployment Rate: 15.5%
9. Asbury Park
Population: 15,933 College Educated: 20.6%
Unemployment Rate: 15.2%
10. Bellmawr
Population: 11,538 College Educated: 14.5%
Unemployment Rate: 12.3%
Understanding the Results
As we mentioned earlier, determining the least active towns in New Jersey often comes down to subjective interpretations. However, by examining factors like workforce participation, educational attainment, and overall employment rates, we can create an accurate depiction of inactivity across the state.
Detailed List of the Least Active Places in New Jersey
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Wildwood | 1 |
| Salem | 2 |
| Camden | 3 |
| Atlantic City | 4 |
| Penns Grove | 5 |
| Paulsboro | 6 |
| Trenton | 7 |
| Millville | 8 |
| Asbury Park | 9 |
| Bellmawr | 10 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
