PROVIDENCE – The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent in April according to a statement released by the R.I. Department of Labor and Training Thursday.
The rate is unchanged from the March 2017 rate yet fell by 1.1 percentage points from April 2016.
Nationwide, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in April, 0.1 percentage points lower than March and 0.6 percentage points less than April 2016.
For the third consecutive month, the Rhode Island unemployment rate has been less than the national rate.
April saw 23,900 unemployed Rhode Island residents, 100 fewer than the revised March figure and 6,000 less than April 2016.
Unemployment insurance benefits were collected by 11,167 individuals last month, or 49.5 percent of the total unemployed.
From March to April, 200 nonfarm jobs were lost for a total 494,600. This marks the second consecutive month of job declines but also a 5,000-job bump in the year-to-year comparison. Since January the state has added 3,300 jobs.
There were 531,600 employed Rhode Islanders in April, a gain of 1,500 individuals month-to-month. Year-to-date the number of jobholders increased by 9,100.
Rhode Island’s labor force increased by 1,400 individuals from March for an April total of 555,500. This figure marks a 3,100-person jump from April 2016.
The Bay State’s unemployment rate gained 0.3 percentage points from March rising to 3.9 percent. Since April 2016, the Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped by 0.1 percentage points.
Below is an industry-specific analysis of Rhode Island’s unemployment figures:
- Professional & Business Services: 800 jobs were lost in April but the sector has gained 600 jobs year-to-date
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation: 800 jobs were lost in April yet the figure remains unchanged from April 2016
- Health Care & Social Assistance: 400 jobs were lost in April and year-to-date the industry has gained 500 jobs
- Other Services: 300 jobs were dropped in April and the year-to-date figure also lost 300 jobs
- Education Services: 100 jobs were lost in April but employment in the sector increased by 500 since April 2016
- Manufacturing: 900 jobs were added in April and the sector has seen a 500-job bump year-to-date
- Financial Activities: Two months of job loss were halted by the addition of 500 jobs in April but lost 100 jobs year-to-date
- Retail Trade: 400 jobs were added in April marking a 700-job bump from April 2016
- Wholesale Trade: 200 jobs were added in April translating to a gain of 400 jobs year-to-date
- Accommodation & Food Services: 100 jobs were gained in April marking a 500-job increase from April 2016
- Government: 100 jobs were added last month marking a 300-job gain from April 2016
The number of jobs in the Construction, Information, Mining and Logging and Transportation & Utilities sectors remained unchanged from April. Yet construction employment increased by 1,800 jobs and transportation and utilities grew by 100 year-to-date. Five hundred jobs were lost in the information sector since April 2016. Mining and logging saw no change in employment in the year-over-year comparison.
Production workers in the Manufacturing sector earned $18.96 per hour last month – a three-cent raise from March and a 68-cent increase from April 2016.
Manufacturing employees worked, on average, 39.5 hours per week in April, an increase of 6 minutes from March and one hour from April 2016.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. Follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey.
