PROVIDENCE – The average unemployment rate for 2018 in Rhode Island was 4.1 percent, a 0.3 percentage point decline from 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Thursday.
The average yearly unemployment rate was tied for highest in New England with Connecticut. The average for the six Northeastern states was 3.5 percent. The national average for 2018 was 3.9 percent.
New Hampshire had the lowest average unemployment rate in New England in 2018 at 2.5 percent, followed by Vermont at 2.7 percent, Massachusetts at 3.3 percent and Maine at 3.4 percent.
The BLS said that annual average unemployment rates decreased in 25 states, increased in 1 state, and were little changed or unchanged in 24 states and the District of Columbia.
Rhode Island’s unemployment change was not considered statistically significant by the BLS. The BLS said that in New England, statistically significant unemployment declines occurred in Connecticut (0.6 percentage points) Massachusetts (0.5 percentage points) and Vermont (0.7 percentage points)
On average, there were 533,000 employed in Rhode Island in 2018, an increase from 529,000 employed the year prior. The average labor force also increased from 554,000 people to 556,000 people year to year. The average number of unemployed declined from 24,000 to 23,000 year over year.
The state’s average population over 16 years old was 861,000 in 2018, compared with 859,000 one year prior.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. Email him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
