Construction jobs in Rhode Island fall

Posted on March 6, 2018

The newest labor statistics show that construction jobs in Rhode Island have decreased.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2017 was 4.4 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from the November rate. Over the year, the unemployment rate is down half of a percentage point from the December 2016 rate of 4.9 percent.

Estimated nonfarm payroll in Rhode Island totaled 497,300 in December, reflecting a loss of 600 jobs from the revised November estimate of 497,900. Over the year, the Rhode Island economy is up 6,000 jobs, with 6,200 of the jobs stemming from the private sector workforce. The Government sector is down 200 jobs from a year ago.

The Accommodation & Food Services sector lost 800 jobs in December, erasing all the 600 jobs it added in November. Over the year, the number of jobs within the Accommodation & Food sector is up 1,100.

The number of jobs in the Wholesale Trade sector fell in December 2017 by 700 from November 2017. December marks three consecutive months of declines within this sector, totaling 1,000 jobs. Wholesale trade employment remained unchanged from a year ago.

Three sectors, Construction, Retail Trade and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation, each reported a loss of 200 jobs in December. Among these three sectors, Construction (+2,100) was the sole sector reporting an over-the-year gain, while employment in Retail Trade and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation fell by 600 and 500, respectively, over the year.

The Information sector lost 100 jobs in December; employment in the sector is also down 100 since December 2016

Offsetting some of the December job declines was a gain of 400 jobs reported in the Financial Activities sector. Over the year, Financial Activities employment is up by 800.