RI Job Numbers Unchanged: Massachusetts Added 10,800 Jobs

CRANSTON, RI —The number of Rhode Island-based jobs has not changed from July, according to the state Department of Labor and Training. Also, the August unemployment rate is stuck at 4.3 percent. Here is the break down by job sector, according to the DLT's press release.

JOBS BASED IN RHODE ISLAND: The number of Rhode Island based jobs in August remained unchanged from the revised July employment figure of 499,700. The Government sector, which lost 500 jobs in August, was offset by a gain of 500 jobs in the private sector. Overall, the number of jobs in Rhode Island is up 9,300 from a year ago.

Employment in the Construction sector rose by 1,100 in August, the largest gain among all industry sectors. The increase in jobs was driven by gains reported in the construction of buildings and specialty trade contractor subsectors. Construction employment is up 3,200 over the past year.

The number of jobs in the Accommodation & Food Services sector grew by 400 in August, marking five consecutive months of job growth. A total of 4,100, or an average of 800 jobs per month were added through this five-month span. This industry has added 4,000 jobs over the year.

The Educational Services and Health Care & Social Assistance sectors each added 300 jobs over the month. These sectors have added 1,700 and 900 jobs, respectively, from a year ago.
Wholesale Trade employment increased by 200 from July and now has 600 more jobs than reported in August 2016.
The number of jobs in the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation, Financial Activities, Mining & Logging and Professional & Business Services sectors remained unchanged.
Employment in the Manufacturing sector fell by 600 in August, erasing the gain of 600 jobs reported in July. Despite the August decline, the number of Manufacturing jobs is up 800 over the year.
The Government sector reported a decrease of 500 jobs over the month and a decrease of 600 jobs over the year. The number of jobs in the Transportation & Utilities sector is also down over the month and over the year, falling by 400 and 200 jobs, respectively.
A loss of 300 jobs was reported in both the Information and Other Services sectors. The Information sector has lost 500 jobs from August 2016, while the Other Services sector is up 100 jobs.
The Retail Trade sector has reported three consecutive months of job declines as the number of jobs in August fell by 200. A total of 900 jobs have been lost during this three-month period. The number of jobs in the Retail Trade sector is unchanged from a year ago.
MANUFACTURING: In August 2017, production workers in the Manufacturing sector earned $18.99 per hour, down forty-three cents from July 2017, but up seventy-five cents from August 2016.
Manufacturing employees worked an average of 40 hours per week in August, up seven-tenths of an hour over the month and up one and eight-tenths hours from a year ago.

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