R.I. unemployment lowers to 3.6% in June

PROVIDENCE – Unemployment for Rhode Islanders declined 0.4 percentage points year over year to 3.6% in June, according to the R.I. Department of Labor and Training Thursday.

The United States unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than Rhode Island’s in June at 3.7%.

The number of unemployed in the state declined 10% from June 2018 to 19,800 people, while employed Rhode Island residents declined 0.2% year over year to 532,400. Nonfarm payrolls totaled 502,200 in Rhode Island in June, a 1% increase over the year.

The labor force declined 3,400 workers from June 2018 to 552,100.

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Sector by sector employment breakdown (in order of total jobs):

  • Health care and social assistance employment increased 2,300 workers year over year to 83,100
  • Professional and business services employment declined 1,400 workers year over year to 67,100
  • Government employment increased 400 workers to 61,600
  • Accommodation and food services increased 500 jobs year over year to 50,000
  • Retail trade employment declined 300 jobs year over year to 48,400
  • Manufacturing employment declined 1,400 workers year over year to 39,000; manufacturing sector production employees earned $19.87 per hour, a 52 cent increase year over year. Employees worked an average of 38.8 hours per week, a decline of two and two-tenths of an hour year over year
  • Financial activities employment increased 600 workers year over year to 35,900
  • Educational services employment increased 1,400 jobs year over year to 27,200
  • Other services employment increased 800 jobs year over year to 23,800
  • Construction employment increased 700 workers year over year to 19,900
  • Wholesale trade employment increased 900 jobs year over year to 17,400
  • Transportation and utilities employment increased 900 jobs year over year to 13,000
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation employment declined 200 workers year over year to 9,400
  • Information sector employment increased 400 works year over year to 6,200
  • Mining and logging employed 200 in June, unchanged from the previous year

Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.