PROVIDENCE – The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Rhode Island was 4 percent in January, level with the national unemployment rate and the highest in New England, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Monday.
The Rhode Island unemployment rate declined 0.4 percentage points year over year from 4.4 percent. The percentage-point drop was the fourth-fastest rate decline year over year in New England.
- New Hampshire had the lowest unemployment rate in the country in January, tied with Iowa, at 2.4 percent
- Vermont had the second-lowest unemployment rate in the region and third in the nation at 2.5 percent
- Massachusetts’ unemployment rate in January was 3.1 percent, third highest in New England
- The Maine unemployment rate increased from 3.2 percent to 3.5 percent year over year in January, the fourth-lowest unemployment rate in New England
- Connecticut unemployment was 3.8 percent in January, a 0.8 percentage-point decline year over year, the largest percentage-point decline in the nation.
- Rhode Island’s 4 percent unemployment rate was highest in the region
Nine states had significantly significant unemployment rate decreases year over year in January. Colorado had the only statistically significant unemployment increase from 2.9 percent to 3.7 percent in that time.
The R.I. Department of Labor and Training produced its January report on March 7, reporting that the number of jobs in the Ocean State stood at 496,000 in January, an increase of 2,400 from January 2018. In addition, the labor force increased by 800 people over the year to 556,200.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. Email him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
