Home Economy Economic Activity RIPEC: R.I.’s unemployment rate highest since Q3 of 2021

RIPEC: R.I.’s unemployment rate highest since Q3 of 2021

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PBN Staff

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05/18/2026

Screenshot — Rhode Island’s unemployment rate reached its highest level in five years, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and the Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies at Bryant University said in its quarterly report released Monday.

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s unemployment rate reached its highest level in five years, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and the Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies at Bryant University said in its quarterly report released Monday. Rhode Island’s unemployment rate in the first quarter increased from 4.4% to 4.6% year over year, the highest level since

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PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s unemployment rate reached its highest level in five years, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and the Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies at Bryant University said in its quarterly report released Monday. Rhode Island’s unemployment rate in the first quarter increased from 4.4% to 4.6% year over year, the highest level since the third quarter of 2021. Rhode Island’s unemployment rate has also exceeded the New England rate for 10 consecutive quarters, according to the report. The number of employed Rhode Islanders has declined for three consecutive quarters and is now at its lowest point in three years, the unemployment rate has risen to its highest level in several years, and labor-force participation continues to fall,“ said Michael DiBiase, CEO and president of RIPEC. “These trends reinforce the need for policymakers to prioritize Rhode Island’s long-term economic health and address underlying barriers to sustained growth.” The state’s employment rate fell to 561,000, its lowest level since the first quarter of 2023, and declined for a third consecutive quarter, RIPEC said. Year over year, resident employment was down 11% to 6,100 jobs. Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate marked seven consecutive quarters of decline, falling from 63.8% to 63.5% in the first quarter, RIPEC said. However, net sales tax receipts, what RIPEC said is a key indicator of aggregate demand, showed strong year-over-year growth, increased 4.1%, seasonally adjusted, and rose 0.5% quarter over quarter. “Rhode Island’s economic indicators in early 2026 point to growing weakness in the labor market,” DiBiase said. “Despite continued strength in net sales tax receipts and modest gains in a few key sectors, the broader employment picture has continued to weaken.” In the fourth quarter of 2025, the most recent quarter for which data are available, Rhode Island’s gross domestic product declined at an annualized rate of 0.4%, RIPEC said, compared with growth of 0.9% in New England and 0.5% nationally. The full report can be found here.