R.I. jobless rate falls in November to 5.2%

THE R.I. Department of Labor and Training said that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November fell to 5.2 percent. In  November 2014, it was 6.9 percent. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING
THE R.I. Department of Labor and Training said that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November fell to 5.2 percent. In November 2014, it was 6.9 percent. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING

PROVIDENCE – The unemployment rate in Rhode Island continued to move toward the national average in November, as it fell one-tenth of a percentage point from October’s rate to 5.2 percent, compared with the national 5 percent rate, according to figures released by the state Department of Labor and Training on Thursday.
The month-over-month drop in the local jobless rate was the result of declines in both the number of employed Rhode Islanders – 526,900 from 527,700 in October – and a drop in the size of the labor force – to 555,600 from 557,100 in the earlier month.
Looked at on a year-over-year basis, the number of employed Rhode Islanders grew by 15,100, while the size of the labor force grew by 5,900.
The DLT noted that the unemployment rate for the state represented a one and seventh-tenths percentage point decline from a year earlier and was the lowest it has been since July 2007.
The number of jobs in Rhode Island has shown steady improvement throughout the year, gaining 7,400 jobs. The nonfarm job count for the state is at its highest level since February 2008, and the growth seems to be accelerating. In September, October and November, job gains averaged 900 per month for the state. Year to date, the average has been 700 jobs per month, a 40 percent increase on the 500 jobs per month gain shown in the same 2014 time period.
The largest growth by sector over the past 12 months came in professional and business services (increase of 3,500 jobs), accommodation and food services (+2,300), educational services (+1,700), other services (+1,200), manufacturing (+900), and arts, entertainment and recreation (+800). Showing the largest year-over-year declines in sector jobs were construction (decline of 1,100), and government and wholesale trade (both with drops of 600).
Manufacturing wages increased 23 cents to $17.81 per hour from October to November, but fell from $18.22 in November 2014. Workers spent less time on the job in November, with the average work week in November clocking in at 38.2 hours, a drop of four-tenths of a hour from October and of one and four-tenths of an hour from November 2014.

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