CLICK HERE. / " title="RHODE ISLAND'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE slipped a tenth of a percentage point to 11.4 percent in October, the R.I. Department of Training said Friday.For a larger version of this image, CLICK HERE. /"/>PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s unemployment rate continued its slow descent last month, shedding a tenth of a percentage point to 11.4 percent as the state picked up 600 additional jobs in October, the R.I. Department of Training said Friday.
It is the eighth consecutive monthly decline since the jobless rate hit a high in December of 12.7 percent, but Rhode Island’s improving job numbers continue to be outpaced by Massachusetts, where the unemployment rate fell 0.3 percent to 8.1 percent last month.
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The U.S. jobless rate, meanwhile, remained unchanged at 9.6 percent.
Rhode Island’s net gain of 600 jobs – the state added 800 private-sector jobs and lost 200 in the government sector – boosted the state’s non-farm payrolls to 451,000 in October. That’s still 3,300 fewer jobs than the state had a year ago, when unemployment was 12.3 percent.
The number of employed state residents increased by 1,100 in October to 506,200 while the number of unemployed residents – those classified as available for work and actively seeking employment – sank by 600 for the month to 65,300. That lead to an increase from the previous month of 500 in the state’s labor force to 571,500, but down 100 from a year earlier.
The average weekly claims for unemployment benefits declined to 854 in October, down 2.5 percent from September’s average. That figure differs from the total number of unemployed because of eligibility restrictions.
Rhode Island’s largest job losses in October came in health care and social assistance, which lost 400, the DLT said.
Government shed 200 jobs over the month; losses were reported in professional and business services (200), financial activities (100), and educational services (100).
The largest job gain for the month came in accommodation and food services (500) because of fewer than normal seasonal layoffs in October, according to the DLT. Wholesale trade picked up 400 jobs because of an increase in wholesale agents and brokers, the DLT said. Manufacturing added 300 jobs as smaller gains were reported in retail trade (200) and “other services” (200).
Construction; information; arts entertainment and recreation; transportation and utilities; and natural resources and mining remained unchanged.
Manufacturing-production workers in Rhode Island earned an average hourly wage of $14.85 in October, up two cents from September and up 54 cents from a year earlier.
The state’s average manufacturing work week in October was 39.3 hours, up two-tenths of an hour from September and up 1.6 hours from last year, DLT said.
Additional information is available at www.dlt.ri.gov.
