Accounting jobs in Rhode Island increase

Posted on January 6, 2016

New labor statistics posit that accounting jobs in Rhode Island may be increasing.

Employment increased by 211,000 in November, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In November, the unemployment rate held at 5.0 percent, and the number of unemployed persons, at 7.9 million, was essentially unchanged. Over the past 12 months, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons are down by 0.8 percentage point and 1.1 million, respectively.

Job gains occurred in accounting and bookkeeping services (+11,000), and employment in computer systems design and related services continued to trend up (+5,000). Over the year, professional and technical services has added 298,000 jobs. Health care employment increased by 24,000 over the month, following a large gain in October (+51,000).

Retail trade employment continued to trend up in November (+31,000) and has increased by 284,000 over the year.

In November, job gains occurred in general merchandise stores (+12,000) and motor vehicle and parts dealers (+9,000).

Over the past 12 months, these industries have added 85,000 jobs and 71,000 jobs, respectively. Employment in mining continued to decline in November (-11,000), with losses concentrated in support activities for mining (-7,000).

Since a recent peak in December 2014, employment in mining has declined by 123,000. Information lost 12,000 jobs over the month.

Within the industry, employment in motion pictures and sound recording decreased by 13,000 in November but has shown little net change over the year.

In November, hospitals added 13,000 jobs. Health care employment has grown by 470,000 over the year. Employment in food services and drinking places continued to trend up in November (+32,000) and has risen by 374,000 over the year.

Job growth occurred in construction, professional and technical services, and health care. Employment in mining and information declined over the month.

Employment in construction rose by 46,000 in November, with much of the increase occurring in residential specialty trade contractors (+26,000). Over the past year, construction employment has grown by 259,000. In November, professional and technical services added 28,000 jobs.