yes they are hiring, no they haven't taken over the Jersey City contract... at least not yet.... personally, I think its going to play out in court.
lots of paid EMS agencies in NJ..... can you be a little more specific as to where in the state you are looking to apply? also there are different pay rates, employment types, coverage areas, and levels of supervision, all that you need to look into when deciding where you want to work.
A fair amount of volunteer first aid squads are hiring per-diem EMTs to fill in coverage gaps. Call around to some local squads and you might find some that are hiring.