PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s June unemployment rate of 4.2 percent ranked No. 28 for lowest unemployment rate in the country, tied with North Carolina, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers.
Rhode Island rose 10 spots in national rankings for unemployment rate year over year from 38 in the nation in June 2016. The 12 month decline in Rhode Island’s unemployment rate (1.2 percent) was tied for No. 6 for the largest drop in the country and No. 1 in New England. However, despite Rhode Island’s ranking ascension, its unemployment rate still ranks No. 4 in New England.
Building a Strong Data Foundation in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key priority in the boardroom and across management —…
Learn More
The Massachusetts unemployment rate increased 0.6 percentage points percent year over year, the sharpest rise of state in the country to 4.3 percent.
Only two states in the nation had monthly unemployment rate increases in June, while 10 reported lower rates and 38 and the District of Columbia reported stable numbers.
In June 2017, the Ocean State’s unemployment rate was two percentage points lower than the national unemployment rate of 4.4%.
The unemployment rate in the state increased by 0.1 percentage points from May, equivalent to the addition of some 350 individuals to the unemployment pool. The state’s rate of unemployment stands 1.2 percentage points lower than it was this time last year.
Maine was noted in the BLS report for having a sizable monthly unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points, but at 3.5 percent, the state still ranked No. 14 for the lowest unemployment rate nationwide and No. 3 in New England.
New Hampshire had the lowest unemployment rate in New England at 2.9 percent, No. 5 for the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
New England unemployment rates:
- New Hampshire: 2.9 percent
- Vermont: 3.2 percent
- Maine: 3.5 percent
- Rhode Island: 4.2 percent
- Massachussetts: 4.3 percent
- Connecticut: 5.0 percent
Kyle Borowski is a PBN contributing writer.
