PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ‘s seasonally adjusted unemployment decreased the fourth-most percentage points in the nation year over year, according to a Friday release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Ocean State fell the most in New England, 1.1 percentage points to 4.3 percent unemployment.
Despite the leading percentage-point reduction in unemployment, Rhode Island is tied with Massachusetts for the second-highest unemployment in New England, at 4.3 percent.
Unemployment:
New Hampshire:
- Unemployment in July was 2.8 percent of the labor force, the lowest in the England.
- The year-over-year decline of unemployment in New Hampshire was 0.1 percentage points, tied with Connecticut for the fourth-largest proportional decline in unemployment in New England.
Vermont:
- Unemployment in July was 3.1 percent of the labor force, the second-lowest in New England.
- The year-over-year decline of unemployment in Vermont was 0.2 percentage points, the third-largest proportional decline in New England.
Maine:
- Unemployment in July was 3.7 percent of the labor force, the third-lowest rate in the New England region.
- The year-over-year decline in unemployment in Maine was 0.3 percentage points, the second-largest rate decline in New England.
Massachusetts:
- Unemployment in Massachusetts in July was 4.3 percent, tied with Rhode Island for the fourth-lowest unemployment in New England.
- Massachusetts unemployment increased 0.7 percentage points year over year, the only state in New England to experience growing unemployment.
Rhode Island:
- Unemployment was 4.3 percent in July, tied with Massachusetts for the fourth-lowest unemployment in New England.
- Rhode Island unemployment declined 1.1 percentage points year over year, the most of any state in New England.
Connecticut:
- Connecticut unemployment was 5 percent in July, the highest unemployment rate in New England.
- Connecticut’s unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage points year over year, tied with New Hampshire for the fourth-largest percentage-point decline in July.
July Labor force percent increase:
New Hampshire: No. 1 – The number of New Hampshire nonfarm payroll employees grew 1.78 percent year over year to 679,900.
Rhode Island: No. 2 – The number of Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employees grew 1.73 percent year over year to 499,200.
Massachusetts: No. 3 – The number of Massachusetts nonfarm payroll employees grew 1.27 percent year over year to 3.6 million.
Maine: No. 4 – The number of Maine nonfarm payroll employees grew 1.02 percent year over year to 624,400.
Connecticut: No. 5 – The number of Connecticut nonfarm payroll employees grew 0.69 percent year over year to 1.7 million.
Vermont: No. 6 – The number of Vermont nonfarm payroll employees grew 0.25 percent year over year to 316,700.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
