Home Economy Economic Activity R.I. monthly unemployment climbs to 4.9% in April

R.I. monthly unemployment climbs to 4.9% in April

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PBN Staff

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05/15/2025

RHODE ISLAND’S seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April was 4.9%, up from 4.8% in March, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training says. / AP FILE PHOTO/LYNNE SLADKY

CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April was 4.9%, up from 4.8% in March, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in April, same as the previous month, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.2% in April 2024, while the

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CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April was 4.9%, up from 4.8% in March, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in April, same as the previous month, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.2% in April 2024, while the U.S. rate was 3.9%. The DLT says the number of unemployed Rhode Islanders in April was 28,800, up 300 from March and 3,800 from a year ago. The number of employed residents was 559,200 in April, down 1,200 from the previous month and 6,600 year over year, the DLT said. Overall, the state’s labor force totaled 558,100 in April, down 900 from March and down 2,700 from April 2024. Nonfarm jobs in April reached an all-time high of 516,000, an increase of 300 from the revised March jobs figure of 515,700 and up 4,300 from April 2024, the DLT said. These jobs exclude farming and some government, private and nonprofit workers. In the past three months, the local economy has added 1,600 jobs, averaging a gain of just over 500 jobs per month. The number of jobs in the administrative and waste services sector rose by 1,000 in April, stemming from gains reported within landscaping services. The educational services sector added 900 jobs in April, following a gain of 500 jobs in March. The DLT said these job gains are noteworthy given that the sector had lost a considerable number of jobs during the second half of 2024. The April employment level of 27,600 is the highest level since June 2024. A loss of 300 jobs in the health care and social assistance sector marks the first monthly job decline since July 2024. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls in Rhode Island by sector in April:

Accommodation and food services: 52,800, a decrease of 400 since March but an increase of 700 year over year.

Administrative and waste services: 29,700, an increase of 1,000 since March and 1,800 year over year.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 8,100, down 300 since March and 500 year over year.

Construction: 22,700, down 400 from March but up 700 year over year.

Educational services: 27,600, up 900 since March but down 800 year over year.

Finance and insurance: 28,400, up 100 since March but down 200 year over year.

Government: 66,300, up 200 from March and 700 year over year.

Health care and social assistance: 86,500, a decrease of 300 since March but up 1,400 year over year.

Information: 5,400, same as March but down 300 year over year.

Management of companies and enterprises: 10,200, same as March but down 300 year over year.

Manufacturing: 40,200, down 100 from March but up 100 year over year. Production workers in the sector earned $26.45 per hour in April, 48 cents more than in March and 48 cents more from April 2024.

Professional, scientific and technical services: 31,300, up 200 from March and 500 year over year.

Retail trade: 46,600: down 100 from March and 800 year over year.

Wholesale trade: 16,400, down 300 from March but up 100 year over year.