Food services jobs in Rhode Island grow
Posted on December 2, 2018
A number of food services jobs in Rhode Island have grown, according to recent labor statistics.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment ratefor October 2018 was 3.8 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the September rate of 3.9 percent. Over the year, the unemployment rate is down seven-tenths of a percentage point from the October 2017 rate of 4.5 percent.
Rhode Island has added 1,000 jobs over the past two months and has 6,300 more nonfarm jobs than a year ago.
The Other Services and Retail Trade sectors added 500 and 400 jobs, respectively, in October. The employment level in Other Services now stands at 24,600, an all-time high. Over the year, Other Services employment is up 1,500. The Retail Trade sector has added 900 jobs over the past three months and is up 500 jobs from October 2017.
Employment in the Construction sector increased by 300 from September, boosting its employment level to 19,400, the highest employment level since October 2008 (19,700). Over the year, Construction sector employment is up 1,100.
The Accommodation & Food Services and Wholesale Trade sectors each added 200 jobs in October. The number of jobs in the Accommodation & Food Services sector is up 1,400 from a year ago, while Wholesale Trade jobs are down 300 from a year ago.
The number of jobs in both the Information and Government sectors grew by 100 in October. Information employment is up 100 from October 2017, while Government employment is down 300 from October 2017.
After posting job gains of 500 and 400 in August and September, respectively, the Professional & Business Services sector reported a loss of 600 jobs in October. The number of jobs in Professional & Business Services is up 300 from a year ago.
Employment in the Manufacturing sector fell by 300 in October, impacted by the closure of a packaging facility in Pawtucket which employed nearly 200 workers. Manufacturing employment is up 800 over the year.
Smaller job losses in October were noted in the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (-200), Health Care & Social Assistance (-100) and Transportation & Utilities (-100) sectors. The Transportation & Utilities sector was impacted by a school bus strike in Providence. The number of jobs in the Health Care & Social Assistance sector is up 500 from a year ago, while the number of jobs in Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (-200) and Transportation & Utilities (-100) is down from a year ago.
Finally, employment in the Financial Activities, Mining & Logging and Educational Services sectors remained unchanged in October. Employment in both the Financial Activities and Mining & Logging remained unchanged from October 2017, while Educational Services employment is up 1,000 from a year ago.
