R.I. mirrors national pattern: jobless rate the same in Sept.

THE RHODE ISLAND unemployment rate did not change from August to September, staying at 7.6 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
THE RHODE ISLAND unemployment rate did not change from August to September, staying at 7.6 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

PROVIDENCE – Regional and state unemployment rates changed little in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Rhode Island is an example, as it has maintained a 7.6 unemployment rate since August.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said 31 states had unemployment rate decreases from August, 8 states had increases and 11 states and the District of Columbia had no change.

It also said 42 states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, five states had increases, and three states had no change. Rhode Island fell into the former category, as its unemployment rate dropped from 9.5 percent in September 2013 to 7.6 percent last month.

The number is still higher than the national jobless rate of 5.9 percent, however.

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Georgia had the highest unemployment rate among the states in September at 7.9, followed by Mississippi, 7.7 percent, and Rhode Island, 7.6 percent. North Dakota had the lowest, at 2.8 percent.

The largest over-the-month increases in nonfarm payroll employment occurred in Texas (+36,400), Illinois (+19,300) and Colorado (+14,600). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in California (-9,800), followed by Pennsylvania (-9,600) and Virginia (-7,400). Rhode Island nonfarm employment increased by 400 jobs to 478,900.

In Rhode Island, education and health services had the largest job gains with 1,900 from August to September. Financial activities gained 200 jobs and leisure and hospitality gained 100 jobs, while government lost 300 jobs; professional and business services lost 500 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities lost 400 jobs; manufacturing, 300 jobs; and construction, 100 jobs.

Construction firms added jobs in 39 states between September 2013 and September 2014. From August to September of this year construction employment increased in 34 states and the District of Columbia, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America released Tuesday.

Association officials noted in a press release that the construction job gains come as more construction firms report having a hard time finding qualified workers to fill key positions.

The AGC of America data on Tuesday showed that Rhode Island ranked 39th on a list for losing 100 construction jobs from August to September, a 0.6 percent decline. Comparing September 2013 to September 2014, Rhode Island ranked 23rd thanks to a gain of 600 construction jobs, a 3.7 percent increase.

Mississippi had the highest percentage increase from August to September at 3.9 percent and 1,900 jobs, followed by Hawaii (3.3 percent, 1,000 jobs), Michigan (2.3 percent, 3,100 jobs). Maine had the largest percentage decrease at 3.7 percent and 1,000 jobs, followed by New Hampshire (-2.7 percent, -600 jobs), Arizona (-2.3 percent, -2,700 jobs) and Pennsylvania (-2.1 percent, -5,000 jobs).

Association officials said the new employment figures show that the industry continues to add new workers after its years-long downturn. But they cautioned that more and more firms are reporting labor shortages.
“Hard as it is to imagine, given what this industry has been through the past few years, but many firms are very worried about their ability to find, recruit and retain qualified workers as the industry continues to rebound,” Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO, said.

View the state construction employment ranking HERE.

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  1. For a more detailed picture of the overall situation; Try going to
    http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm and/or http://www.bls.gov/lau/stalt.htm One is updated monthly, the other one quarterly….jkp