Rhode Island Unemployment Jumps Up 66% Year-Over-Year

Rhode Island Unemployment Jumps Up 66% Year-Over-Year

Rhode Island’s unemployment rate has increased 66% in the past year, according to data released by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.

The state lost 400 jobs in the month of July.

The unemployment rate in July was 4.5 percent, and last year, it was 2.7 percent.

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The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in July, up two-tenths of a percentage point from June. The U.S. rate was 3.5 percent in July 2023.

The number of unemployed Rhode Island residents — those residents classified as available for and actively seeking employment — was 26,700, up 1,200 from June. The number of unemployed residents was up 11,300 over the year.

The number of employed Rhode Island residents was 565,400, up 600 over the month and up 7,500 over the year.

The Rhode Island labor force totaled 592,100 in July, up 1,700 over the month and up 18,800 from July 2023.

The labor force participation rate was 65.2 percent in July, up from 65.1 in June, and up from 63.5 in July 2023. Nationally, 62.7 percent of U.S. residents participated in the labor force.

Unemployment Insurance claims* for first-time filers averaged 1,559 in July, up from 825 in June. Claims were up an average of 109 a week from July 2023.