Healthcare jobs in Rhode Island grow

Posted on June 4, 2019

As the economy grows, more healthcare jobs in Rhode Island have been added.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.7 percent, the Department of Labor and Training announced Thursday. Over the year, the unemployment rate is down four-tenths of a percentage point from the April 2018 rate of 4.1 percent.

The Professional & Business Services sector added 1,600 jobs in April, recouping all of the 1,100 jobs lost in March. Most of the job growth can be attributed to the Administrative & Waste industry sector, as payrolls rose significantly among landscaping companies. Over the year, Professional & Business Services employment is down 400.

Sizeable job gains in April were also noted in Health Care & Social Assistance, as the number of jobs grew by 800. Growth within this sector came via the ambulatory health care services and hospitals subsectors. Health Care & Social Assistance has reported three consecutive months of job gains totaling 1,600 jobs and is up 1,900 jobs from a year ago.

Payrolls in the Accommodations & Food Services sector increased by 700 in April, as employment increases were found among caterers, full-service restaurants and drinking establishments. The number of jobs in Accommodation & Food Services is up 100 from April 2018.

The Financial Activities sector added 400 jobs in April. Over the year, the number of jobs in Financial Activities is up 700.

Jobs in the Educational Services and Retail Trade sectors were each up 300 in April, while jobs in Wholesale Trade grew by 200. All three sectors reported growth over the year, led by Educational Services (+700), followed by Wholesale Trade (+400) and Retail Trade (+100). 

Three sectors reported an increase of 100 jobs in April; Government, Construction and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation. Over the year, job numbers are up in Government (+800) and Construction (+700), while being down in Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (-600). 

Manufacturing lost 400 jobs in April, all of which were among the durable goods manufacturing component. Manufacturing employment is down 1,100 from a year ago.

Payrolls in the Information, Mining & Logging, Other Services and Transportation & Utilities sectors remained unchanged from March.