Healthcare jobs in Rhode Island are lost

Posted on October 1, 2018

Several hundred healthcare jobs in Rhode Island were lost, according to recent labor statistics.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2018 was 4.0 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the July rate of 4.1 percent. Over the year, the unemployment rate is down four-tenths of a percentage point from the August 2017 rate of 4.4 percent.

The number of Rhode Island based-jobs fell to 501,900 in August, a decrease of 2,400 jobs from the revised July employment level of 504,300. August marks the first monthly job decline in Rhode Island since March. Overall, Rhode Island’s job count is up 6,400 from August 2017.

The Accommodation & Food Services sector lost 1,300 jobs in August, shedding all the 1,200 jobs it added in July. Prior to August, this sector had reported four consecutive months of employment gains, totaling 2,600 jobs. Over the year, employment in the Accommodation & Food Services sector is up 800.

A loss of 1,000 jobs was reported in the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, erasing the 1,000 jobs it added in July. Despite the large August decline, the number of jobs in Health Care & Social Assistance is up 1,500 from August 2017.

The number of jobs in the Other Services and Wholesale Trade sectors fell by 400 and 300, respectively. Employment in Other Services is up 1,000 over the year, while down 500 in Wholesale Trade.

The Manufacturing sector lost 200 jobs in August, while a loss of 100 jobs each was reported in the Construction, Educational Services, Government and Transportation & Utilities sectors. Among these sectors, Educational Services (-100) was the lone sector to report an over-the-year job loss. Construction employment is up 700 from August 2017, while employment in Manufacturing and Transportation & Utilities is up 500 and 300, respectively, during this period. Government employment remained unchanged from a year ago.

Offsetting some of the August job losses was a gain of 600 jobs reported in the Professional & Business Services sector and a gain of 500 jobs in the Retail Trade sector. The number of jobs in the Professional & Business Services sector is up 1,800 from August 2017, while Retail Trade employment is down 100 from August 2017.