PROVIDENCE – The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in Rhode Island was 3.8% in March, a 0.4 percentage-point decline year over year and level with the national unemployment rate, according to the R.I. Department of Labor and Training Thursday.
The number of jobs in the state declined by 1,000 year over year to 494,900 and declined 300 month to month.
The number of unemployed in the state was 21,200, a decline of 2,300 year over year and a decrease of 700 month to month. There were 12,000 individuals collecting Unemployment Insurance benefits in March, an increase from 11,656 one year prior.
Meanwhile, the labor force declined 1,500 year over year to 554,100 people.
Rhode Island employment sector figures, in order of total employed:
- The health care and social assistance sector employed 81,500 workers in March, an increase of 1,000 workers year over year and a decline of 100 workers from revised February estimates. The sector reported the largest year-over-year employment increase in the state.
- Professional and business services employed 66,100 in Rhode Island in March, a decline of 2,200 workers year over year and a decline of 1,100 workers month to month from revised estimates. The sector had the largest year-over-year decline of any sector in the state.
- Government employed 61,400 in Rhode Island, a 700-worker increase year over year and an increase of 300 workers month to month.
- The accommodation and food services sector employed 48,600 workers in March, a decline of 800 workers year over year and an increase of 100 workers month to month.
- Retail trade employed 48,300 workers in March, a decline of 200 workers year over year but an increase of 300 jobs from revised February figures.
- Manufacturing employed 39,800 last month, a decline of 1,200 workers over the year but an increase of 100 jobs month to month. Production workers in in the sector earned $19.87 per hour, an increase of 42 cents year over year. Manufacturing employees worked an average of 37.6 hours per week for the month, a decline of nearly an hour from one year prior.
- Financial activities employed 35,600 workers in March, an increase of 200 year over year and a decline of 100 workers month to month.
- The educational services sector employed 25,600 in March, an increase of 300 year over year and a decline of 400 jobs from revised February estimates.
- The other services sector employed 23,900 in March, an increase of 900 workers year over year and an increase of 300 from revised February estimates.
- Construction employment was 19,600 in March, an increase of 200 workers year over year and 100 month to month.
- Wholesale trade employed 16,700 workers last month, a 100-worker increase year over year and a 100-worker increase from revised February estimates.
- The transportation and utilities sector employment was 12,900 in March, the same as February and a 700-worker increase from March 2018.
- The arts, entertainment and recreation sector employed 8,800 in Rhode Island in March, a decline of 700 workers year over year but no change month to month.
- The information sector employed 5,900 workers in March, unchanged both year over year and from revised February estimates.
- Mining and logging employed 200 workers in March, unchanged from one year prior and an increase of 100 workers month to month.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
