Rhode Island trade jobs grow

Posted on April 3, 2017

New labor statistics show how Rhode Island trade jobs are growing.

the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2017 was 4.5 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from the revised January rate. Over the year, the unemployment rate is down nine-tenths of a percentage point from the February 2016 rate of 5.4 percent. This is the lowest unemployment rate since May 2001.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in February 2017, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month and down two-tenths of a percentage point over the year.

The number of unemployed RI residents—those residents classified as available for and actively seeking employment—was 25,000, down 1,200 from the revised January figure of 26,200. Over the year, the number of unemployed dropped by 4,800.

The number of employed RI residents was 527,200, up 2,300 from the revised January figure of 524,900. Over the year, the number of employed RI residents was up 4,800 from February 2016.

Employment in Construction continued to trend up, adding 700 jobs in February, following a gain of 900 jobs in January. The Construction employment level has topped the 20,000 mark for the first time since September 2008 (20,400). Over the year, the Construction sector has added 2,200 jobs.

The number of jobs in the Other Services sector grew by 400 from January, boosting the February employment level to 23,200. Employment in the Other Services sector is up 100 over the year.

A gain of 300 jobs was reported in each of the Accommodation & Food Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Transportation & Utilities and Wholesale Trade sectors.  Employment in both the Accommodation & Food Services and Health Care & Social Assistance is up 1,100 from February 2016, while the number of jobs in the Wholesale Trade and Transportation & Utilities sectors is up 200 and 100, respectively, from a year ago.