Rhode Island businesses added 800 jobs, a 0.2 percent increase, last month, bringing the February seasonally adjusted job count to 491,900.
February’s gain of 800 jobs marks the fifth consecutive month of employment increases. Private sector employment showed continued growth, as professional and business services, educational and health services and financial activities each reported successive monthly job gains of five months, four months and three months, respectively.
Manufacturing employment remained stable in February following three months of job declines. Trade, transportation and utilities was the only sector to record a continued monthly decline, losing jobs in each of the last four months.
