Rhode Island Jobs Expanding
Posted on July 24, 2008
Many Rhode Island jobs and industries are expected to grow through 2014.
According to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, employment in the state as a whole is expected to increase by 55,000 jobs through 2014. Overall employment in 2014 is expected to reach 573,437, an increase of 10.7 percent from 2004.
“Much of this growth is attributed to the increased demand for products and services provided by the healthcare and social assistance, accommodation and food service, retail trade, educational services and professional, scientific and technical services sectors,” the site states.
While job gains are anticipated in almost all major sectors, some industries will add more jobs than others. Expected to add the most jobs are:
- food services and drinking places with 6,397 jobs
- educational services with 5,182 jobs
- professional, scientific and technical services with 4,994 jobs
- nursing and residential care facilities with 4,939 jobs
- ambulatory healthcare services with 4,817 jobs
- hospitals with 3,152 jobs
- administrative and support services with 2,364 jobs
- credit intermediation and related activities with 2,225 jobs
- social assistance with 2,161 jobs
- securities, commodities and investments with 1,813 jobs
- amusement, gambling and recreation with 1,429 jobs
- management of companies and enterprises with 1,357 jobs
- accommodation with 1,201 jobs
- chemical manufacturing with 1,043 jobs
- general merchandise stores with 1,035 jobs
Healthcare is expected to account for the largest number of new jobs, and this can be attributed to an aging population, medical advances and new technological advances. Also, a growth in student population will add 5,200 jobs to the educational services sector.
About 5,000 jobs will be added to the professional, scientific and technical services sector, mostly because establishments that once maintained departments that provide legal, accounting, engineering human resources and other services are opting to purchase the services from other companies. Rapid changes in computer technology also will help the sector grow.
The food services and drinking places industry should add about 6,400 jobs due to changing lifestyles, a fast-paced society, two-income families and dining styles. Also, changes in personal taste and shopping style will help add more than 5,200 retail trade jobs.
The top expanding occupations within industries will include: registered nurses, retail salespersons, waiters and waitresses, nursing aides, orderlies and attendants, home health aides, customer service representatives, combined food preparation and serving workers, carpenters, accountants and auditors, social and human service assistants, janitors and cleaners, general and operations managers, teacher assistants, personal and home care aides, food preparation workers, child care workers, computer systems analysts, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, computer software engineers, maids and housekeeping cleaners, receptionists and information clerks, counter attendants, medical assistants, first line supervisors and managers and hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists.
