PROVIDENCE – The unadjusted unemployment rate in the Providence-Warwick metropolitan area was 3.2% in November. That's up from 2.8% in October and from 3.1% in November 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday.
Unadjusted for seasonal employment patterns, the U.S. jobless rate in November was 3.5%, the same as a year earlier. The BLS said that unemployment rates were higher in November than a year earlier in 214 of the 389 U.S. metropolitan areas, lower in 158 areas and unchanged in 17 areas.
There were 22,437 people unemployed in the Providence metro area in November, up from 21,904 one year prior. The labor force in the area totaled 709,324 in November, an increase from 698,704 one year prior.
In the New Bedford metro area in November, the unemployment rate was 3.8%, up from 3.4% in October but down from 4.8% in November 2022.
There were 3,131 people unemployed in the New Bedford metro area in November, down from 3,994 one year prior. The labor force in the area totaled 83,430 in November, a decrease from 83,778 one year prior.