CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment in November was 2.9%, two-tenths of a percentage point higher than the previous month, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday.
The DLT says the number of unemployed Rhode Islanders in November was 16,700, up 1,100 from October but a reduction of 1,900 from a year ago. Also, the number of employed residents was at 557,500 as of November, up 300 from the previous month and 9,600 more than November 2022, according to the DLT.
Overall, the state’s labor force was 574,200 in November, up 1,300 from October and 7,700 from November 2022, the DLT said. Rhode Island’s unemployment rate in November 2022 was 3.3%.
The state’s total nonfarm jobs in November totaled 496,900, an increase of 1,900 from October and up 7,700 from November 2022. These jobs exclude farming and some government, private and nonprofit workers.
Also, the DLT said that through November, the state’s economy has recovered 97,900 jobs, or 90.4%, of the 108,300 jobs that were lost during the pandemic’s shutdown.
Of the state’s nonfarm jobs, three industry sectors lost jobs in November: finance, government and professional, scientific and technical services. Professional, scientific and technical services lost the most jobs, 400 since October.
Nine industry sectors posted gains in November, led by the health care and social- assistance group, which added 800 jobs.
Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls in Rhode Island by sector in November:
- Accommodation and food services: 48,600, same as October but a loss of 700 year over year.
- Administrative and waste services: 27,000, an increase of 300 since October but a loss of 500 year over year.
- Arts, entertainment and recreation: 8,300, a gain of 300 since October and 200 year over year.
- Construction: 21,600, an increase of 300 from October but down 500 year over year.
- Educational services: 24,900, same as October but down 100 year over year.
- Finance and insurance: 29,300, down 100 from October but up 300 year over year.
- Government: 64,900, down 300 from October but up 700 year over year.
- Health care and social assistance: 83,300, an increase of 800 from October and 3,200 year over year.
- Information: 5,600 same as October but down 400 year over year.
- Management of companies and enterprises: 10,700, same as October but down 200 year over year.
- Manufacturing: 40,200, same as October but down 100 year over year. Production workers in the sector earned $25.55 per hour in November, down 14 cents from October but up $1.55 from November 2022.
- Professional, scientific and technical services: 29,200, down 400 from October but up 100 year over year.
- Real estate, rental and leasing: 6,200, up 300 from October but down 500 year over year.
