CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s economic recovery continued in June with the monthly unemployment rate dropping two-tenths of a percentage point from May to 2.7%, matching the lowest rate on record, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said on Thursday.
Nonfarm payrolls totaled 496,400 in June, same as the month before and an increase of 16,200 year over year. These jobs exclude farming and some government, private and nonprofit workers.
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The state’s unemployment rate was 6.2% in June 2021.
“Today’s historic jobs report shows that Rhode Island has economic momentum and we are continuing to build on that momentum every single day,” said Gov. Daniel J. McKee, welcoming the good news amid this year’s hotly contested gubernatorial race. “In addition to a record low unemployment rate, Rhode Island also has one of the best-ranked economic recoveries in the nation according to Moody’s. But now is not the time to take our foot off the gas – we must continue to accelerate this momentum, together.”
The number of unemployed Rhode Islanders – classified as residents actively seeking employment – decreased to 15,700 in June, a decline of 800 since May and 19,800 year over year. The number of unemployed state residents has dropped 84,600 since April 2020, the height of pandemic-related shutdowns
Employed Rhode Islanders totaled 556,200 in June, an increase of 2,600 from May and up 17,300 year over year.
The state labor force was 572,100 in June, an increase of 1,900 individuals from May but down of 2,700 from June 2021.
The DLT noted that compared with February 2020 – a month before the COVID-19 pandemic hit – the number of unemployed Rhode Island residents is down 5,300 and the number of employed state residents is up 5,400. There are 200 more state residents participating in the labor force than there were before the start of the pandemic, the DLT said.
Last month, the state’s manufacturing sector gained 200 jobs from May, bringing the total to 40,300; food services and accommodations increased by 400 jobs, bringing the total to 49,600; and the construction sector lost 100 to bring the total to 21,700. The DLT said both the accommodation and food services and the health care and social assistance sectors reported their highest employment levels since April 2020, while the financial activities sector posted its first month job gain since this past March.
Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls in Rhode Island by sector in June:
- Health care and social assistance: 80,800, an increase of 400 from May and up 1,200 year over year.
- Government: 63,700, an increase of 200 from May and year over year.
- Accommodation and food services: 49,600, an increase of 400 from May and up 4,400 year over year.
- Retail trade: 46,800, same as May and up 100 year over year.
- Manufacturing: 40,300, a gain of 200 from May and 1,300 year over year. Production workers in the sector earned $24.20 per hour in June, an increase of 6 cents from May and $2.52 from one year prior.
- Professional and technical services: 29,800, a decrease of 100 from May and an increase of 2,000 year over year.
