DOT: R.I. jobless rate dips in January to 4.7%, lower than U.S. rate first time in more than decade

THE R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Rhode Island's unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in January. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING
THE R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Rhode Island's unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in January. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING

(Updated, 4:10 p.m.)</font size>
PROVIDENCE – The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in Rhode Island fell to 4.7 percent in January, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from December and a 0.7 percentage point decline from the January 2016 rate, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday.

The national unemployment rate in January was 4.8 percent – up 0.1 percentage point from December and down the same amount in the year-over-year comparison. The Rhode Island rate came in below the national jobless rate for the first time since May 2005, according to the DLT.

In January, there were 26,100 unemployed Rhode Islanders, which is 1,200 fewer than the revised December figure, and 3,900 fewer than in January 2016.

There were 492,700 Rhode Island-based nonfarm jobs in January 2017 – a gain of 1,400 jobs from the revised December estimate and also reflecting an increase of 4,600 jobs since January 2016.

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Since December, 1,500 more residents were employed for a total of 524,800, which marks an increase of 2,600 year over year.

State labor force tallies reached 550,900 in January, representing 300 more people than December, but a loss of 1,300 from January 2016.
A DLT spokesman said 44 percent of all unemployed Rhode Islanders accessed unemployment benefits in January 2017.

The Bay State’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points from the revised December 2016 rate to 3.2 percent in January, according to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Since January 2016, Massachusetts’ unemployment rate has fallen by 1.1 percent.

Industries in Rhode Island were impacted as follows in December:

  • Construction: 900 jobs were added in January, the third consecutive month of gains; sector is up 1,600 jobs from January 2016
  • Arts, Entertainment & Recreation: 700 jobs gained in January which marks an increase of 900 jobs from January 2016
  • Professional & Business Services: 500 jobs added in January and is up 1,700 from January 2016
  • Financial Activities: January saw 400 jobs added to the sector but this total represents a 400-job fall from January 2016
  • Health Care & Social Assistance: 300 jobs were added in January and the industry has added 800 jobs year over year
  • Other Services: January saw 200 jobs added to the sector, but jobs fell 200 jobs year over year
  • Accommodation & Food Services: 600 jobs were lost in January yet the industry has added 700 jobs since January 2016
  • Education Services: 200 jobs were lost in January but the sector is up 700 year over year
  • Government: The industry fell by 200 jobs in January and has added 300 jobs year over year
  • Transportation & Utilities: 200 jobs were lost in January, which also marks a 200-job loss since January 2016
  • Information: 100 jobs were lost in January and the sector has fallen by 200 jobs since January 2016
  • Manufacturing: The sector fell by 100 jobs in January and is down 900 jobs from January 2016
  • Retail Trade: 100 jobs were lost in January and the tally is unchanged year to date
  • Wholesale Trade: There was a 100-job loss in January and the industry is down 200 jobs year-to-year
  • Logging & Mining: There was no month-to-month or year-to-year change in the 200 jobs in the sector

On average, manufacturing workers worked 39.4 hours per week –2.2 hours less than in December and up 1.5 hours from January 2016. They earned $18.39 per hour in January – a decrease of 40 cents from December but a gain of 81 cents year over year.

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