Food service jobs in Rhode Island decline
Posted on December 4, 2017
Food service jobs in Rhode Island declined sharply, according to the latest labor statistics.
For September 2017 the unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the August rate. Over the year, the unemployment rate is down one and one-tenth percentage points from the September 2016 rate of 5.3 percent.
The number of unemployed RI residents—those residents classified as available for and actively seeking employment—was 23,200, down 500 from the August figure of 23,700. Over the year, the number of unemployed dropped by 5,800.
Employment in the Accommodation & Food Services sector fell sharply in September, shedding 1,500 jobs. Over the year, the number of jobs within the Accommodation & Food sector is up 2,600.
The number of jobs in the Educational Services sector fell by 800 in September, ending two consecutive months of job gains. This industry is showing a slight over-the-year gain of 100 jobs.
The Health Care & Social Assistance and Professional & Business Services sectors each lost 600 jobs over the month. Employment in Health Care & Social Assistance is up 400, while employment in Professional & Business Services is down 1,400 from a year ago.
Financial Activities employment fell by 500 from August, continuing its downward trend. The last job gain within this sector was reported in June. Since September 2016, the number of jobs in the Financial Activities sector is down 1,000.
A decrease of 400 jobs was reported in the Construction sector. The number of jobs in the Construction sector is up 2,200 since the start of the year and up 2,500 from a year ago.
September job losses were also reported in the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (-300), Manufacturing (-100) and Retail Trade (-100) sectors. The Manufacturing sector is the only sector among the three to report an increase over the year, up 1,100 jobs. Retail Trade employment is down 200 since September 2016, while Arts, Entertainment & Recreation employment is down 100 jobs.
