Rhode Island unemployment drops
Posted on May 17, 2013
Rhode Island unemployment ticked down in April, according to the state labor department.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2013 dropped to 8.8 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from the March 2013 rate and 1.8 percentage points from the April 2012 rate. This represents the 10th consecutive over-the-month drop in the state’s unemployment rate, and is the lowest unemployment rate for Rhode Island since October 2008.
Estimated nonfarm payroll in Rhode Island totaled 467,400 in April, reflecting a gain of 500 jobs from the March revised employment estimate of 466,900 and marking the fifth month of job gains in the last six months.
The Accommodation & Food Services sector employment count increased by 500 from March, as job gains were reported in full-service restaurants. Manufacturing employment rose by 400 over the month, mainly due to reported gains among durable goods manufacturing workers.
Job gains in landscaping services and employment services provided a boost to the Professional & Business Services sector which added 300 jobs over the month. In addition, both Health Care & Social Assistance and Educational Services grew by 300 jobs since March. Job gains were also reported in the Other Services (+200) and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (+100) sectors.
Total nonfarm employment was up by 2,700, as job gains appeared in six economic sectors, including Professional & Business Services (+2,600), Health Care & Social Assistance (+1,300), Financial Activities (+1,200), Manufacturing (+1,100), Other Services (+400) and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (+300).
The U.S. unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in April 2013, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month and down six-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 49,400, down 1,700 from the March figure of 51,100. This represents the 10th consecutive over-the-month decrease and the lowest unemployment level since September 2008. Over the year, the number of unemployed dropped by 9,700.
The number of employed RI residents was up 1,200 over the March figure, increasing to 508,900 in April. Over the year, the number of employed RI residents increased 9,100 from April 2012.
The RI labor force totaled 558,200 in April 2013, down 700 from March 2013 and down 700 from April 2012.
