Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November is estimated at 5.2 percent, little changed from October’s 5.0 percent, or the year-ago 5.1 percent, Adelita S. Orefice, director of the R.I. Department of Labor and Training, today announced.
The number of unemployed Rhode Island residents was 30,200, up 1,400 from the previous month, Orefice said. A year ago, the jobless level was 29,300.
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The state’s unemployment rate last month remained above the national average, which inched up 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.5 percent, or half a percentage point below the year-ago 5.0 percent.
Employment at Rhode Island businesses was also unchanged last month; the seasonally adjusted job count remained at 493,900.
“The number of jobs at Rhode Island businesses has remained stable over the last few months,” Orefice said. “Overall, employers have been cautious about hiring as we enter the holiday season. Small gains in several sectors have been offset by similar cutbacks in other sectors.”
Month-over-month job gains were seen in: Professional & Business Services, gaining 400 jobs; Educational & Health Services, gaining 400 jobs; Financial Activities, up 300; and Government, up 200. They were partially offset by employment declines in Leisure & Hospitality, down 400 jobs; Other Services, losing 300; and Construction, down 100.
The gains in Professional & Business Services reflected additional hiring in Employment Services. Job growth in Educational & Health Services was mostly at private colleges and universities. The banking industry was credited with the Financial Activities sector’s gains. Local Government saw a boost in November from the addition of temporary election workers. Job losses in food services and drinking places were blamed for Leisure & Hospitality’s decline.
Compared with November 2005’s 493,500 jobs, employment in the state was up 400 jobs. Annual employment growth was seen in Financial Activities (+2,100); Professional & Business Services (+1,100); Educational & Health Services (+800); and Construction (+700). Those gains were partially offset by losses in Manufacturing (-1,500); Other Services (-900); Trade, Transportation & Utilities (-600); Government (-600); and Leisure & Hospitality (-400).
Hours and Earnings
The average wage in November for Rhode Island manufacturing production workers was $13.48 per hour, down 3 cents per hour from October, but up 17 cents per hour from the average in November 2005
Local manufacturing workers’ average work week increased in November, to 39.7 hours per week, up 0.4 hours from the previous month, and 1.2 hours since November 2005.
The DLT notes that current-month figures are preliminary; prior-month and prior-year figures are revised.
The DLT’s unemployment figures are based largely on a survey of households in Rhode Island, and reflect the employment status of people who live in the state; its employment figures are derived from a survey of businesses in Rhode Island and measure the number of jobs in the state.
Further information on the Rhode Island labor market is available www.dlt.ri.gov/lmi.
