Government jobs in Rhode Island climb

Posted on August 24, 2015

The number of government jobs in Rhode Island went up last month, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Jobs totaled 486,200 in July, reflecting a gain of 3,300 jobs from the revised June estimate of 482,900. July’s employment level marks the highest employment level since March 2008.

During the past three months, Rhode Island has averaged a gain of 1,600 jobs and has added 6,200 jobs over the year. Since the start of the year, jobs are up 6,900.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2015 dropped to 5.8 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the June 2015 rate of 5.9 percent.

Over the year, the unemployment rate is down one and eight-tenths percentage points from the July 2014 rate. This is the lowest unemployment rate since October 2007.

Employment in the Government sector rose by 1,000, stemming from growth reported in the local government branch. Government employment is up 200 from July 2014. Most of the over-the-month growth in the local government branch was in educational services likely due to many school districts extending the school year to make up for snow days.

Several other industry sectors added jobs from June, including: Retail Trade (+700), Educational Services (+500), Transportation & Utilities (+300), Manufacturing (+300), Financial Activities (+300) and Construction and Wholesale Trade, which added 200 jobs each.
The addition of 700 jobs in the Retail Trade sector propelled its employment level to the highest level since March 2010.

Jobs in Retail Trade are up 100 over the year. Also of note, the Construction sector has added monthly job gains for only the third time this year while being down 1,300 jobs from a year ago.

The Wholesale Trade sector has gone three consecutive months without reporting job losses as jobs are up 400 during this period and also up 200 from July 2014.