Home Economy Economic Activity R.I. monthly unemployment drops to 4.6% in August

R.I. monthly unemployment drops to 4.6% in August

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PBN Staff

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09/18/2025

RHODE ISLAND’S seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 4.6%, down from 4.8% in July, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training says. / AP FILE PHOTO/LYNNE SLADKY

CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 4.6%, down from 4.8% in July, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% in August, up from 4.2% the previous month, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.5% in August 2024, while

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CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 4.6%, down from 4.8% in July, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% in August, up from 4.2% the previous month, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.5% in August 2024, while the U.S. rate was 4.2%. The DLT says the number of unemployed Rhode Islanders in August – those actively looking for work – was 27,100, down 1,000 from July but up 700 from a year ago. The number of employed residents was 561,700 in August, up 2,100 from the previous month but down 3,300 year over year, the DLT said. Overall, the state’s labor force – the number of people employed or looking for work – totaled 588,800 in August, up 1,100 from July but down 2,600 from August 2024. The state’s nonfarm jobs in July totaled 513,700, an increase of 500 from the July jobs figure of 513,200 and up 1,700 from August 2024, the DLT said. These jobs exclude farming and some government, private and nonprofit workers. The August job gains were led by a gain of 700 jobs reported in the administrative and waste services sector, propelling the employment level to 30,000, an all-time high. The construction sector added 500 jobs in August, marking that sector’s highest monthly job gain this year. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls in Rhode Island by sector in August:

Accommodation and food services: 50,800, a decrease of 600 since July and a decrease of 800 year over year.

Administrative and waste services: 30,000, an increase of 700 since July and an increase of 1,800 year over year.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 7,400, same as July but down 1,200 year over year.

Construction: 22,900, up 500 from July and 400 year over year.

Educational services: 27,400, same as July but up 200 year over year.

Finance and insurance: 28,100, down 100 since July and down 500 year over year.

Government: 66,200, up 200 from July but down 600 year over year.

Health care and social assistance: 84,800, down 700 since July and down 700 year over year.

Information: 5,300, down 100 since July and down 200 year over year.

Management of companies and enterprises: 10,100, the same as July and down 100 year over year.

Manufacturing: 40,200, same as June but up 500 year over year. Production workers in the sector earned $26.46 per hour in August, 10 cents less than in July but up 45 cents from August 2024.

Professional, scientific and technical services: 32,800, up 400 from July and 1,800 year over year.

Real estate and leasing: 6,400, up 200 from July and unchanged year over year.