PROVIDENCE – Falling 0.1 percentage points, the Rhode Island seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in June according to a report from the R.I. Department of Labor and Training Thursday.
In June 2017, Rhode Island’s June unemployment rate stood at 4.2 percent. However, in Thursday’s report, the June 2017 rate had been revised to 4.4 percent making the June 2018 figure the lowest unemployment seen in Rhode Island since 2001.
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National unemployment in June 2018 rose to 4.0 percent in, a jump of 0.2 percentage points since May but also a drop from 4.3 percent in June 2017.
A total 24,000 Rhode Islanders were unemployed in June which represents a dip of 800 individuals from the May figure and a 300-individual dip year over year.
There were 8,430 individuals, or 41.1 percent of the state’s total unemployed, collecting unemployment insurance benefits in June. This marks a 677-person decline year over year.
In June, the labor force totaled 560,800 – a gain of 900 individuals from May and 6,800 from June 2017.
Nonfarm payroll was measured at 502,400 in June which represents a 7,500-job gain from June 2017 and a 2,500-job jump since May.
June is the third consecutive month in which Rhode Island has added jobs and led to the achievement of two new employment records. The 50,100 accommodation and food service jobs measured in June as well as the 37,100 financial services and financial activities jobs from that month both broke previous job counts for those industries.
“This jobs report is another clear sign that our approach to economic development, commitment to job training and support for tourism is working,” said Gov. Gina M. Raimondo in a statement.
Below is a sector-by-sector breakdown of job trends among Rhode Island’s top industries in June and how they compare to May 2018 and June 2017. Of the 15 sectors tracked, eight saw job gains both month to month and year over year.
- Education services: 1,600 jobs were added in June while 400 have been dropped year over year
- Accommodation and food services: 500 jobs were added in June and 1,200 year over year
- Financial activities: 400 jobs were added in June while 1,000 have been added year over year
- Health care and social assistance: 200 jobs were added in June and 1,500 year over year
- Construction: 200 jobs were added in June and 1,200 year over year
- Arts, entertainment and recreation: 200 jobs were added in June and 300 year over year
- Professional and business services: 100 jobs were added in June and 1,900 year over year
- Manufacturing: 100 jobs were added in June and 900 year over year
- Transportation and utilities: 100 jobs were added in June and 400 year over year
- Information: while 100 jobs were added in June, 300 were dropped year over year
- Retail trade: 500 jobs were dropped in June and 100 year over year
- Other services: while 200 jobs were dropped in June, 700 have been added since year over year
- Wholesale trade: 200 jobs were dropped in June and 500 have been lost year over year
- Government: 100 jobs were dropped in June and 300 year over year
There was no changing in the mining and logging industry month to month or year over year.
Manufacturing sector production employees earned $19.35 per hour in June – an increase of 12 cents since May and 40 cents over the year. In June, those individuals worked an average 41.2 hours per week – 24 minutes more than in May and 11 minutes and 24 seconds since June 2017.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
