Jobs in Rhode Island decrease

Posted on June 18, 2012

Jobs in Rhode Island may be on the decline, according to recent statistics. But there is still a bright spot for the New England state.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nonfarm payroll employment increased in 27 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 22 states, and was unchanged in Maine.

The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in California (+33,900), followed by Ohio (+19,600) and New Jersey (+17,600). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in North Carolina (-16,500), followed by Pennsylvania (-9,900) and Maryland (-7,500).

Vermont experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment (+1.1 percent), followed by Montana (+0.9 percent) and Nebraska (+0.7 percent).

Alaska experienced the largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment (-0.8 percent), followed by New Mexico (-0.6 percent) and Delaware and Hawaii (-0.5 percent each).

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 43 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 7 states. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment occurred in North Dakota (+6.8 percent).

The largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment occurred in Rhode Island (-0.8 percent).

Nevada continued to record the highest unemployment rate among the states, 11.6 percent in May. Rhode Island and California posted the next highest rates, 11.0 and 10.8 percent, respectively.

North Dakota again registered the lowest jobless rate, 3.0 percent, followed by Nebraska, 3.9 percent. In total, 27 states reported jobless rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 8.2 percent, 5 states and the District of Columbia had measurably higher rates, and 18 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.