Home Economy Economic Activity R.I. unemployment rises to 4.5% in January despite adding jobs

R.I. unemployment rises to 4.5% in January despite adding jobs

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PBN Staff

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04/02/2026

RHODE ISLAND’S seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January was 4.5%, up from 4.4%, according to the R.I. Department of Labor and Training. / AP FILE PHOTO/LYNNE SLADKY

CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 4.5% in January even though the state added 400 jobs month over month, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. Unemployment rose a 10th of a percentage point in January alongside job growth because fewer Rhode Island residents were working and more

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CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 4.5% in January even though the state added 400 jobs month over month, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Thursday. Unemployment rose a 10th of a percentage point in January alongside job growth because fewer Rhode Island residents were working and more were actively looking for work, the DLT data shows. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% in January, down from 4.4% in December, according to the DLT. The Rhode Island jobless rate was 4.5% in January 2025, while the U.S. rate was 4.0%. The DLT says the number of unemployed Rhode Islanders in January – those actively looking for work – was 26,800, up 500 from December and 100 from a year ago. The number of employed residents was 564,200 in January, down 1,300 from December and 3,700 year over year, the DLT said. Overall, the state’s labor force totaled 591,000 in January, down 800 from December and down 3,600 from January 2025. The state’s nonfarm jobs in December totaled 514,600, an increase of 400 from the revised December jobs figure of 514,200 and down 2,200 from January 2025, the DLT said. These jobs exclude farming and some government, private and nonprofit workers. Over the past three months, the Rhode Island economy has added 800 jobs, or a gain of just under 300 jobs per month. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls in Rhode Island by sector in January:

Accommodation and food services: 53,400, an increase of 100 since December and 1,100 year over year.

Administrative and waste services: 26,700, an increase of 100 since December but a decrease of 600 year over year.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 9,200, up 200 since December and 400 year over year.

Construction: 23,100, down 100 from December but up 600 year over year.

Educational services: 27,100, up 200 from December but down 1,600 year over year.

Finance and insurance: 28,200, down 200 from December and 400 year over year.

Government: 64,600, down 300 from December and 2,600 year over year.

Health care and social assistance: 88,500, up 200 since December and 1,900 year over year.

Information: 5,300, same as December but down 400 year over year.

Management of companies and enterprises: 9,400, down 100 since December and 600 year over year.

Manufacturing: 39,100, same as December and down 300 year over year. Production workers in the sector earned $25.24 per hour in January, 36 cents lower than in December and 59 cents from January 2024.

Professional, scientific and technical services: 31,400, up 200 from December and 300 year over year.

Real estate, rental and leasing: 6,600, same as December but up 100 year over year.

Retail trade: 46,300, same as December and down 700 year over year.

Transportation, warehousing and utilities: 17,400, up 200 from December and 900 year over year.