Manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island climb

Posted on May 28, 2018

The number of manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island grew, according to the most recent labor statistics.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2018 was 4.5 percent, unchanged from the March rate of 4.5 percent. Over the year, the unemployment rate is up one-tenth of a percentage point from the April 2017 rate of 4.4 percent.

Estimated nonfarm payroll in Rhode Island totaled 499,300 in April, reflecting a gain of 900 jobs from the revised March estimate of 498,400. The number of Rhode Island based jobs are up 7,200 from April 2017.

The Manufacturing sector added 400 jobs in April, ending three consecutive months of job declines. Over the year, the number of Manufacturing jobs is up 1,200. The Financial Activities sector also added 400 jobs in April, its first job gain since December 2017. Employment in Financial Activities is up 1,000 from a year ago.

An increase of 300 jobs was reported in the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, erasing the 200-job decline reported in March. The number of jobs within this sector is up 1,600 from April 2017.

The Arts, Entertainment & Recreation and Educational Services sectors each added 200 jobs in April. Employment in Arts, Entertainment & Recreation is up 100 from a year ago, while Educational Services employment is down 700 from April 2017.

Lastly, an increase of 100 jobs was reported in the Information, Retail Trade and Professional & Business Services sectors. Employment in both the Information and Retail Trade sectors is down 100 over the year, while the Professional & Business Services sector employment is up 2,800 jobs from April 2017.

Offsetting some of the April job gains was a loss of 300 jobs reported in both the Government and Wholesale Trade sectors. The decline in Wholesale Trade ends three consecutive months of job gains within the sector. Over the year, employment in Wholesale Trade is down 300, while Government employment is up 100.

Construction sector employment fell by 200 in April, however, jobs are up 200 from a year ago.

Finally, the Transportation & Utilities sector reported a loss of 100 jobs in April. Transportation & Utilities employment is up 200 from April 2017.