NEW: RI Adds 1,200 Jobs in May

GoLocalProv Business Team

NEW: RI Adds 1,200 Jobs in May

RI adds 1,200 jobs in May, unemployment drops to 4.4%
Rhode Island added 1,200 jobs in May, according to the RI Department of Labor and Training.

This marks the second straight month in which the state has added jobs. The state added 900 jobs in April.

"It hasn't always been easy, but we've taken big steps over the last three and half years to strengthen our economy and get Rhode Islanders back to work. We continue to make steady progress because of the tough choices we've made to end the freeze on school construction, fix our roads and bridges and get Rhode Islanders the training and education they need to compete for good jobs companies are creating in Rhode Island,” said Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo.

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RI-Based Jobs

The estimated nonfarm payroll in Rhode Island totaled 500,300 in May, a gain of 1,200 jobs from the April number of 499,100.

This is the first time in the state’s history that the number of jobs exceeded a half million.

"There are more jobs in Rhode Island right now than ever before, and we've created 2,600 construction jobs in the last three and half years. Our approach is working and we need to stay focused to ensure that every Rhode Islander is included,” said Raimondo.

The number of Rhode Island-based jobs are up 7,500 from May of 2017.

The number of employed RI residents was 535,200, an increase of 1,500 from the April number of 533,700.

Since May of 2017, the number of employed RI residents was up 5,900.

Unemployment Drops

While jobs increased, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%, the same as it was in May of 2017.

The number of unemployed RI residents was 24,800, down 400 from April.

Since May of 2017, the number of unemployed RI residents increased by 600.

Across the country, the U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in May of 2018, down one-tenth of a percentage point from April.


GoLocal Statewide Poll - Conducted by Harvard's Della Volpe - June, 2018

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