December jobless rate drops to 5%

THE R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING said the December jobless rate fell to 5 percent, from 5.4 percent in December 2015. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING
THE R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING said the December jobless rate fell to 5 percent, from 5.4 percent in December 2015. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING

PROVIDENCE – The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Rhode Island dropped by three-tenths of a percentage point in December, to 5 percent, its fourth consecutive month-to-month decline. It is also four-tenths of a percentage point lower than the jobless rate in December 2015, according to a Thursday release from the R.I. Department of Labor and Training.

Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate crept up one-tenth of a percentage point in December to 4.7 percent, which is three-tenths of a percentage point lower than in December 2015.

There were 27,800 unemployed Rhode Island residents in December 2016, which is 1,500 fewer than in November and 2,200 fewer than in December 2015. This was coupled with the 10,898 individuals, or 44 percent of all unemployed, who collected unemployment insurance benefits last month – 977 more people than in December 2015.

Rhode Island-based jobs fell by 1,000 in December, from the November 2016 revised estimate of 493,100, for a total of 492,100. This is a 3,600-job jump since December 2015.

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Eight hundred fewer residents were employed in December compared with November, for a total of 525,500, but this represented a 3,300-person increase year over year. The state’s labor force was measured at 553,300 in December, a drop of 2,300 individuals month over month, yet an increase of 1,100 since December 2015.

To the north, Massachusetts’ unemployment rate continued to fall. In a Thursday release the Bay State’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported its unemployment rate in December was 2.8 percent, its lowest in 16 years. The rate is one-tenth of a percentage point decrease from November’s 2.9 percent and 2.1 percentage points below the 2015 December number.

Connecticut’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in December 2016, according to a statement from the state’s Department of Labor. This represents a dip of three-tenths of a percentage point from November and one point in the year-over-year comparison.
Industries in Rhode Island were impacted as follows in December:

  • Health care and social assistance lost 500 jobs last month and employment dipped in the year-to-year comparison by 700;
  • Educational services lost 400 jobs in December, but gained 600 since December 2015;
  • Four hundred jobs were dropped by financial activities on top of a 1,200-job loss year over year;
  • The manufacturing sector thinned by 400 jobs in December and lost 900 jobs over the year;
  • Four hundred jobs were dropped by wholesale trade in December, which was mirrored with a 400-job loss since December 2015;
  • Accommodation and food services lost 100 jobs, but rose 2,700 from December 2015;
  • The information sector lost 100 jobs over the month in December, and lost 400 jobs over the year;
  • Other services dropped 100 jobs in December, and lost 200 jobs from December 2015;
  • Jobs were unchanged in mining and logging over the month and over the year;
  • Retail trade stayed the same from November and increased by 1,300 jobs year over year;
  • There was no month-to-month movement in the transportation and utilities sector, but it lost 500 jobs since December 2015;
  • Construction gained 600 jobs in December, but lost 200 jobs year over year;
  • Professional and business services added 500 jobs last month and 2,200 jobs from December 2015;
  • Two hundred jobs were added by the government sector over the month, and 900 jobs from December 2015;
  • The arts, entertainment and recreation sector gained 100 jobs in December and 400 jobs from December 2015.

Manufacturing employees worked an average of 42.1 hours per week in December 2016, which is an increase of 2.3 hours since November 2016 and 2.6 hours since December 2015. They earned $18.55 per hour, which is 5 cents less than November, but $1.08 higher than December 2015.

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