Home Economy Economic Activity R.I. monthly unemployment stays at 4.3% in December

R.I. monthly unemployment stays at 4.3% in December

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PBN Staff

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01/22/2026

RHODE ISLAND’S seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 4.3%, same as November, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING

CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 4.3%, same as November, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.4% in December, down from 4.5% in November, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.5% in December 2024, while the U.S. rate was

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CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 4.3%, same as November, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.4% in December, down from 4.5% in November, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.5% in December 2024, while the U.S. rate was 4.1%. The DLT says the number of unemployed Rhode Islanders in December – those actively looking for work – was 25,600, up 400 from November but down 1,200 from a year ago. The number of employed residents was 564,800 in December, down 1,100 from November but up 100 year over year, the DLT said. Overall, the state’s labor force totaled 590,400 in December, down 700 from November and down 1,000 from December 2024. The state’s nonfarm jobs in December totaled 513,100, a decrease of 500 from the November jobs figure of 513,600 and down 1,400 from December 2024, the DLT said. These jobs exclude farming and some government, private and nonprofit workers. Over the past three months, the Rhode Island economy has lost 1,600 jobs, or an average loss of over 500 jobs per month, the DLT said. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls in Rhode Island by sector in December:

Accommodation and food services: 51,700, an increase of 100 since November and down 1,000 year over year.

Administrative and waste services: 28,300, a decrease of 500 since November and an increase of 400 year over year.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 8,300, up 300 since November but down 400 year over year.

Construction: 22,900, up 100 from November and 300 year over year.

Educational services: 27,800, down 200 from November but up 1,800 year over year.

Finance and insurance: 28,200, same as November but down 400 year over year.

Government: 66,200, up 200 from November but down 300 year over year.

Health care and social assistance: 86,700, up 200 since November and 100 year over year.

Information: 5,100, down 100 since November and 400 year over year.

Management of companies and enterprises: 10,000, down 100 since November and 300 year over year.

Manufacturing: 40,400, up 100 since November and up 400 year over year. Production workers in the sector earned $25.53 per hour in December, 63 cents lower than in November but up 1 cent from December 2024.

Professional, scientific and technical services: 32,300, up 200 from November and 1,100 year over year.

Real estate, rental and leasing: 6,700, up 100 from November and 200 year over year.

Retail trade: 46,000, down 400 from November and 1,800 year over year.

Transportation, warehousing and utilities: 13,400, down 500 from November down 1,100 year over year.