PROVIDENCE – The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Rhode Island in August held steady for the second consecutive month at 4.3 percent, a 1 percentage point decline year over year, according to a R.I. Department of Labor and Training report Thursday. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 4.4 percent.
Nonfarm payroll employment remained at 499,700 in August, the same as in July. That number, however, represented a 9,300-job year-over-year rise.
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The number of unemployed Rhode Island residents decreased 5,800 people year over year to 23,700 while the labor force in the Ocean State increased 3,900 workers to 556,400 from August 2016. The number of people collecting unemployment insurance benefits fell year over year by 5,800, to a total of 9,732 in August.
Below is an industry-specific analysis of changes in Rhode Island’s employment figures:
- Accommodation & Food Services: 400 jobs were added in August from July and 4,000 were added since August 2016, for a total of 52,500.
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation: no jobs were added in August; year-over-year employment increased by 200 jobs to 9,500.
- Construction: the sector grew by 1,100 jobs in August and has added 3,200 since August 2016 to 21,400.
- Education Services: 300 jobs were added in August and 1,700 since August 2016, leading to a total of 26,800.
- Financial Activities: No jobs were added in August and year-over-year employment declined 500 jobs to 33,100.
- Government: employment was reduced by 500 jobs in August; employment in the government sector declined 600 year over year to 60,400.
- Health Care & Social Assistance: 300 jobs were added in August; employment grew by 900 jobs year over year for a total of 81,600.
- Information: 300 jobs were lost in August; employment in the sector declined 500 jobs year over year to 7,600.
- Manufacturing: 600 jobs were shed in August while the sector increased employment by 800 year over year 41,200.
- Mining & Logging: employment remained unchanged both for the month of August and year over year, at 200.
- Professional & Business Services: No jobs were added in August although employment dropped 400 since August 2016 to 65,400.
- Retail Trade: 200 jobs were lost in August but employment held steady year over year at 48,200.
- Transportation & Utilities: 400 jobs were lost in August and employment in the sector declined 200 year-over-year to 11,400.
- Wholesale Trade: 200 jobs were gained in August and 600 were gained since August 2016, for a total of 17,200.
- Other Services: declined by 300 jobs in August and has increased by 100 jobs year over year to 23,200.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
