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R.I. must confront consequences of decade and a half of tepid labor force growth

At last, moving in the right direction
After seeing labor-force growth in the early part of the century until the Great Recession hit, Rhode Island began a long slide in the number of people actively engaged in the marketplace, either employed or looking for work. Finally, in 2017 the state’s labor force has shown significant strides forward, and given that the unemployment rate is falling, too, it is good news.
 / Source: R.I. Department of Labor and Training
AT LAST, MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION After seeing labor-force growth in the early part of the century until the Great Recession hit, Rhode Island began a long slide in the number of people actively engaged in the marketplace, either employed or looking for work. Finally, in 2017 the state’s labor force has shown significant strides forward, and given that the unemployment rate is falling, too, it is good news.
 / SOURCE: R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING

Until the Great Recession hit here (a little before the rest of the nation), Little Rhody opened the 21st century on a roll. The state’s labor force was growing even as the unemployment rate stayed flat, meaning that more people were looking for work and finding it. But starting in 2007, things took a sharp

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