BLS: R.I. unemployment rate highest in N.E. in Dec.

RHODE ISLAND'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE declined 0.4 percentage points to 3.8 percent in December. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/TIM BOYLE
RHODE ISLAND'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE declined 0.4 percentage points to 3.8 percent in December. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/TIM BOYLE

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s 3.8 percent nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was the highest in New England, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday, however, the state’s unemployment rate decline year over year was tied for second fastest in the region.

The unemployment rate declined 0.4 percentage points in December from 4.2 percent in December 2017, tied with Massachusetts for No. 2 in the region behind Connecticut, where the unemployment rate declined 0.8 percentage points year over year to 3.2 percent.

Maine was the only state in New England with an unemployment rate increase year over year, with unemployment rising 0.6 percentage points to 3.2 percent.

None of the year-over-year changes in unemployment in New England were considered statistically significant by the BLS.

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New Hampshire had the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 2.1 percent, followed by Vermont at 2.3 percent, Massachusetts at 2.7 percent, Connecticut and Maine at 3.2 percent, and Rhode Island at 3.8 percent.

The United States unemployment rate in December was 3.9 percent, a 0.2 percentage-point decline from one year prior.

Iowa had the lowest unemployment rate for the month in the nation at 2.4 percent. Alaska had the highest unemployment rate at 6.3 percent.

Read PBN’s detailed breakdown of Rhode Island job figures from December here.

Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. Email him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.

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