The greatest health strengths and challenges in New Jersey
The recently released “America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report” uncovered several health strengths and challenges in New Jersey.
New Jersey is ranked 13th in the country for overall health –a decline from a ranking of 8 in 20191 – according to America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report. Below is a summary of the positive and negative factors that contributed to this ranking.2
New Jersey health strengths
- Low prevalence of multiple chronic conditions
- Low percentage of household food insecurity
- Low occupational fatality rate
- 9% decrease in uninsured from 7.9% to 7.2% of the population between 2019 and 2021
New Jersey health challenges
- High income inequality
- Low supply of primary care providers
- High percentage of households experiencing severe housing problems
- 24% increase in premature death from 6,239 to 7,759 years lost before age 75 per 100,000 population between 2019 and 2020
- 15% increase in depression from 15.2% to 17.5% of adults between 2020 and 2021
What this means for employers
Employers who do business or have employees living in the state of New Jersey may want to consider programs or benefits that can help support their employee population and guide them to better health decisions.
Learn more about the factors impacting the health of New Jersey.
The real people behind these numbers are what make the work ahead so critically important. Despite the challenges ahead, I remain optimistic that the health system can rise to the moment to address long-standing disparities and improve the health and well-being of all Americans, for this generation and the next.
Breaking down the findings from America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report
The latest findings highlight some of the greatest health challenges and strengths across the nation, with racial and ethnic disparities coming into sharp focus.