RI Sees Uptick In Unemployment Rate

Rhode Island's unemployment rate climbed more than 1 percent from July to August, according to a report release Friday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While that may not sound like much, it was one of the largest increases nationwide.

"It is brutal out there," Gov. Gina Raimondo said of the current job market in Rhode Island.

The unemployment rate for the state in August was 12.8 percent, up 1.5 percent from 11.3 percent in July. Kentucky, meanwhile, had the highest change with an increase of 3.1 percent over the last month.

Massachusetts, meanwhile, was a different story, seeing the sharpest decline in unemployment in the country.

Unemployment has been a major focus in Rhode Island since the beginning of the pandemic. The state relies heavily on the hospitality and tourism industries, which were some of the hardest-hit by the pandemic. Smaller summer crowds and lowered restaurant capacity no doubt helped add to these numbers.

To help out-of-work Rhode Islanders, Gov. Gina Raimondo has launched several programs. The state successfully petitioned the Federal Emergency Management Agency for additional payments of $300 per week, for three weeks in August. This week, Raimondo announced that the program had been expanded for another three weeks, providing up to $900 total for Rhode Islanders who certified they were out of the with the Department of Labor and Training Aug. 22, 29 and Sept. 5. The first $600 will be delivered early next week, with the final $300 coming after. FEMA said that no further funding will come after this round, the governor said.

In addition to the expanded unemployment benefits, the state has launched the "Back To Work RI" initiative, a job training program that partners with major Rhode Island employers such as Electric Boat and Citizen's Bank to guarantee participants a job at the end of the program. The training is free to the participants, and transportation and child care can be provided if needed.

"It is hard to restart and relearn and get a new career," Raimondo said. "But this is a unique opportunity ... there will be a job at the end of the training."