CRANSTON – “For the first time since May 2005, Rhode Island’s unemployment rate is lower than the national average,” Adelita S. Orefice, director of the R.I. Department of Labor and Training, announced today.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate last month fell to 4.4 percent from January’s 4.7 percent, the DLT said in its February employment report. The national average last month was 4.5 percent.
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A record 553,800 Rhode Islanders were working last month, an increase of 500 over the previous high of 553,300, set in January.
Reacting to the report, Gov. Donald L. Carcieri said: “Over the past four years, we have made significant progress to create an economic climate that is more conducive to creating new jobs in our state. Today’s report demonstrates that [we] are moving forward on the jobs front.”
The state’s payroll employment rose by 800 jobs, to 495,800, with gains seen in educational services (adding 800 jobs); retail trade (+300); financial activities and wholesale trade (each adding 200); information, (+100); professional and business services, (+100); and arts, entertainment and recreation (+100). The gains were partially offset by job losses in manufacturing (losing 400 jobs); construction (-300); transportation and utilities (-100); natural resources & mining (-100); and government (-100).
The DLT credited the educational job gains to the end of the winter break at local colleges and the retail gains to a Wal-Mart that opened in Providence, adding 350 jobs. February’s unseasonably cold weather contributed to the loss of construction jobs, it said.
Since the end of the last recession in 2001, Rhode Island has added jobs faster than any other state in New England, the governor’s office noted, with private employment growing 5.1 percent, five times the average for the rest of the region.
Additional local labor market information is available at www.dlt.ri.gov/lmi.
