here. / " title="THE PROVIDENCE METRO AREA was one of 139 in the United States with unemployment rates of at least 10 percent. For a larger version of this chart, click here. /"/>WASHINGTON – Despite an increase in the size of its labor force, the Providence-Fall River-Warwick Metropolitan Statistical Area experienced an increase in its unemployment rate in July, according to the latest, not seasonally adjusted, figures from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The civilian labor force for the metro area increased to 715,500 in July, an increase from June’s 707,700 and July 2008’s 706,700. While many of those entering the work force did find jobs, the number of unemployed also grew, reaching 91,100 in July, an increase from the year earlier 56,400, as well as an increase from June’s 85,800 unemployed.
As a result, the unemployment rate for the metro area increased to 12.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The same report showed a slight increase year over year in the size of the civilian labor force for the New Bedford metro area, totaling 85,400 for July versus 84,700 in June 2009 and 83,900 in July 2008.
The area’s unemployment rate stood at 11.9 percent in July, an increase from June’s 11.5 percent and 7.3 percent in July 2008.
In releasing the figures, the government noted that “for the seventh consecutive month, all 372 metropolitan areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases.”
At 12.7 percent, the Providence-Fall River-Warwick MSA had the fourth-highest unemployment rate for metro areas with a population greater than 1 million. Leading that pack were Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich., with a rate of 17.7 percent in July, followed by Riverside-San Bernadino-Ontario, Calif. (14.3 percent); Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. (13.1 percent); Providence; and Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C. (12.4 percent).
The number of people on nonfarm payrolls in July for the Providence metro area declined to 544,900, which represented a decline from June’s 553,800 and July 2008’s 566,000.
To see the entire BLS report, including tables, click here.
