Home Economy Economic Activity R.I. monthly unemployment remains at 4.9% in May

R.I. monthly unemployment remains at 4.9% in May

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PBN Staff

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06/20/2025

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

CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 4.9%, same as April, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Friday. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in May, same as the previous month, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.3% in May 2024, while the U.S. rate

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CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 4.9%, same as April, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Friday. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in May, same as the previous month, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.3% in May 2024, while the U.S. rate was 4%. The DLT says the number of unemployed Rhode Islanders in May was 28,700, down 100 from April but up 3,200 from a year ago. The number of employed residents was 558,900 in May, down 400 from the previous month and 7,100 year over year, the DLT said. Overall, the state’s labor force totaled 587,600 in May, down 500 from April and 3,900 from May 2024. Nonfarm jobs in May reached an all-time high of 516,900, an increase of 1,100 from the revised April jobs figure of 515,800 and up 4,800 from May 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 1,700 jobs, an average gain of just under 600 jobs per month. The professional, scientific and technical services sector added 700 jobs in May, led by gains in engineering services and computer systems design services. Offsetting some of the job gains in May was a loss of 500 jobs reported in the government sector, with both state and federal government reporting job losses while local government increased by 100. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls in Rhode Island by sector in May:

Accommodation and food services: 52,900, an increase of 100 since April and 800 year over year.

Administrative and waste services: 29,700, a decrease of 100 since April and an increase of 1,500 year over year.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 8,100, same as April but down 700 year over year.

Construction: 22,400, down 300 from April but up 300 year over year.

Educational services: 28,000, up 500 since April but down 300 year over year.

Finance and insurance: 28,300, up 100 since April but down 200 year over year.

Government: 65,700, down 500 from April but up 600 year over year.

Health care and social assistance: 87,000, an increase of 500 since April and up 1,600 year over year.

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

Management of companies and enterprises: 10,200, same as April but down 100 year over year.

Manufacturing: 40,300, up 100 from April and 100 year over year. Production workers in the sector earned $25.48 per hour in May, 57 cents less than in April and down 4 cents from May 2024.

Professional, scientific and technical services: 32,200, up 700 from April and 1,300 year over year.

Retail trade: 46,300: down 300 from April and 1,100 year over year.

Wholesale trade: 16,600, up 100 from April and 400 year over year.