Gov. Christie cites N.J. job growth in past month as proof his policies are working

Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerGov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno name the head of a new economic development project, during a press conference in Trenton today.

TRENTON — New Jersey gained 9,300 private-sector jobs in November, and Gov. Chris Christie said his administration's policies on taxes and government spending are working.

"New Jersey is starting to grow jobs," he said. "I don't think it's any mystery why this is happening. We're providing certainty to the business community."

But Gov. Chris Christie isn't saying "mission accomplished," joking about the phrase's infamous past.

"That comes with a handbook from the Republican Governor's Association: things you never say," he said. "Mission accomplished. Read my lips. These are all things you just don't say."

The state's current unemployment rate is 9.2 percent, lower than the national average of 9.8 and down from last year's rate of 9.9.

Democrats criticized Christie's comments on the economy, saying he's overstating his accomplishments.

"The governor's claims that he has fixed our economy fail the simple test of basic economics," Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) said in a statement. "Nearly one-in-eleven residents still have no job. And thousands more have given up finding work entirely and have just left the job market altogether."

Christie said he never claimed success, only that the state's economy is better off now than a year ago.

"We have a lot more work to do," he said. "We're far from mission accomplished."