NEW: RI Unemployment Rate Drops to 9.2 percent in January
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: RI Unemployment Rate Drops to 9.2 percent in January
The Rhode Island unemployment rate dropped to 9.2 percent in 2014, the lowest since November 2008, but still much higher than the national average (6.6%)
The January rate is down 0.1 percent from the revised December 2013 figure, and down 0.4 percent from January of last year.
The number of unemployed RI residents—those residents classified as available for and actively seeking employment—was 50,600, down 500 from the revised December figure of 51,100. This represents the sixth consecutive over-the-month decrease and the lowest unemployment level since October 2008. Over the year, the number of unemployed dropped by 3,200.
The number of employed RI residents was up 600 over the revised December figures, increasing to 499,700 in January. Over the year, the number of employed RI residents decreased 6,500 from January 2013.
The RI labor force totaled 550,300 in January 2014, up 200 from December 2013 but down 9,700 from January 2013.
Rhode Island's Most Unemployed Cities and Towns
#39 Narragansett
Latest Unemployment Rate: 6.0
Labor Force: 9,244
Employed: 8,688
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 9.0 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 5.6 (September 2012, June 2013)
#37 (Tie) Jamestown
Latest Unemployment Rate: 6.5
Labor Force: 3,014
Employed: 2,818
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 9.5 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 5.7 (June 2013)
#37 (Tie) New Shoreham
Latest Unemployment Rate: 6.5
Labor Force: 1,507
Employed: 1,409
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 30.9 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 5.0 (August 2011)
#36 Barrington
Latest Unemployment Rate: 6.8
Labor Force: 8,211
Employed: 7,651
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 8.8 (August 2011)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.4 (April, May, July 2013)
#35 Richmond
Latest Unemployment Rate: 6.9
Labor Force: 4,316
Employed: 4,018
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 8.5 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 5.2 (May 2013)
#34 Glocester
Latest Unemployment Rate: 7.2
Labor Force: 5,893
Employed: 5,470
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.7 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.4 (June 2013)
#33 North Kingstown
Latest Unemployment Rate: 7.3
Labor Force: 15,033
Employed: 13,939
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.5 (January, February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.6 (June 2013)
#32 Little Compton
Latest Unemployment Rate: 7.4
Labor Force: 1,904
Employed: 1,763
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 12.4 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.9 (April 2013)
#31 Middletown
Latest Unemployment Rate: 7.5
Labor Force: 7,917
Employed: 7,325
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 13.5 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.1 (June 2013)
#30 Portsmouth
Latest Unemployment Rate: 7.6
Labor Force: 9,362
Employed: 8,651
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.5 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.6 (June 2013)
#28 (Tie) Bristol
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.0
Labor Force: 12,455
Employed: 11,457
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.6 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.6 (June 2013)
#28 (Tie) Westerly
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.0
Labor Force: 11,917
Employed: 10,961
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.2 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.8 (September 2012)
#27 Smithfield
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.3
Labor Force: 11,781
Employed: 10,799
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.4 (August 2011, February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 5.7 (June 2013)
#25 (Tie) Foster
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.4
Labor Force: 2,701
Employed: 2,475
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 13.4 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.9 (June 2012)
#25 (Tie) N. Smithfield
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.4
Labor Force: 3,014
Employed: 2,818
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 9.8 (August 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.4 (December 2012)
#23 (Tie) Coventry
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.6
Labor Force: 20,279
Employed: 18,537
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.1 (August 2011, February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.1 (June 2013)
#23 (Tie) Cumberland
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.6
Labor Force: 19,055
Employed: 17,422
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.4 (August 2011, July 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.4 (June 2013)
#20 (Tie) Newport
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.7
Labor Force: 12,885
Employed: 11,763
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 14.1 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.2 (September 2012)
#20 (Tie) Warwick
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.7
Labor Force: 46,308
Employed: 42,297
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 9.5 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.4 (August 2011)
#20 (Tie) West Greenwich
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.7
Labor Force: 3,678
Employed: 3,359
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.7 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.6 (June 2013)
#19 East Greenwich
Latest Unemployment Rate: 8.9
Labor Force: 6,784
Employed: 6,178
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.0 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.5 (June 2013)
#15 (Tie) Charlestown
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.0
Labor Force: 4,506
Employed: 4,099
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 14.2 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.1 (June 2013)
#15 (Tie) Lincoln
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.0
Labor Force: 11,781
Employed: 10,717
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.4 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.9 (November 2012, June 2013)
#15 (Tie) South Kingstown
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.0
Labor Force: 16,455
Employed: 14,982
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.6 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.8 (September 2012)
#15 (Tie) Warren
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.0
Labor Force: 5,908
Employed: 5,377
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 12.0 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.6 (June 2013)
#14 Exeter
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.2
Labor Force: 3,865
Employed: 3,509
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.7 (March 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.6 (September 2011)
#13 Tiverton
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.3
Labor Force: 8,882
Employed: 8,058
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 12.0 (January, February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 7.4 (June 2013)
#10 (Tie) Cranston
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.5
Labor Force: 41,657
Employed: 37,682
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.3 (July 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 8.8 (April 2013)
#10 (Tie) East Providence
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.5
Labor Force: 24,677
Employed: 22,339
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 12.6 (January, February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 8.7 (June 2013)
#10 (Tie) West Warwick
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.5
Labor Force: 16,240
Employed: 14,693
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 12.9 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 8.4 (June 2013)
#8 (Tie) Hopkinton
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.8
Labor Force: 4,888
Employed: 4,411
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.2 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 6.6 (June 2012)
#8 (Tie) North Providence
Latest Unemployment Rate: 9.8
Labor Force: 18,130
Employed: 16,347
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.3 (August 2011)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 8.5 (April 2013)
#7 Burrillville
Latest Unemployment Rate: 10.0
Labor Force: 9,526
Employed: 8,570
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.6 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 8.0 (June 2013)
#6 Scituate
Latest Unemployment Rate: 10.4
Labor Force: 6,166
Employed: 5,527
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.2 (July 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 8.4 (June 2013)
#5 Johnston
Latest Unemployment Rate: 10.5
Labor Force: 15,645
Employed: 14,004
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 12.9 (February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 9.2 (June 2013)
#4 Pawtucket
Latest Unemployment Rate: 11.1
Labor Force: 36,412
Employed: 32,378
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 13.7 (July 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.2 (June 2013)
#3 Woonsocket
Latest Unemployment Rate: 11.2
Labor Force: 20,730
Employed: 18,409
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 13.6 (January 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.7 (June 2013)
#2 Providence
Latest Unemployment Rate: 11.5
Labor Force: 80,605
Employed: 71,362
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 14.3 (August 2011)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 10.4 (May 2013)
#1 Central Falls
Latest Unemployment Rate: 12.1
Labor Force: 8,348
Employed: 7,341
Highest Rate in Last Two Years: 15.3 (January, February 2012)
Lowest Rate in Last Two Years: 11.4 (April 2013)
