R.I. jobless rate drops in July to 5.8%

RHODE ISLAND'S unemployment rate fell in July to 5.8 percent. A year ago, it was 7.6 percent. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING
RHODE ISLAND'S unemployment rate fell in July to 5.8 percent. A year ago, it was 7.6 percent. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s unemployment rate for July has decreased to 5.8 percent, one-tenth of a percentage point compared with June, according to the state Department of Labor and Training.
The new, seasonally adjusted rate is 1.8 percentage points lower than the rate a year ago, and is at its lowest since October of 2007, the DLT reported Thursday.
By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in July, unchanged from the previous month and nine-tenths of a percentage point lower year over year.
The state’s labor force totaled 559,800 in July, an increase of 1,300 from June and 5,400 higher than last July, the agency said.
The number of unemployed residents totaled 32,200, a decrease of 800 from June’s figure of 33,000 and the lowest level since September of 2007. Over the year, the number dropped by 9,700.
A total of 10,869 individuals collected unemployment insurance benefits in July, a decrease from 12,561 a year ago. This month, 33.1 percent of the total unemployed.
At the same time, the number of employed residents was 527,600, an increase of 2,100 from June’s figure of 525,500. Over the year, the figure was 15,100 higher than it was last July.
Year over year, total nonfarm employment increased by 6,200 jobs to 486,200. This July employment level is the highest level since March of 2008, the DLT said.

The professional and business services sector added 4,200 jobs, the most of any sector.
Also increased are transportation and utilities, +1,000; other services, +700; accommodation and food services, +600; manufacturing, +500; educational services, +300; health care and social assistance, government employment and wholesale trade, +200 each; retail and financial activities, +100 each.
Losing jobs year over year were construction, -1,300; information, -400; and mining and logging along with arts, entertainment and recreation, -100 each.

Since June, sectors adding jobs included professional and business services, +1,400; government, +1,000; retail trade, +700; educational services, +500; manufacturing, transportation and utilities, and financial activities, +300; and construction and wholesale trade, +200.
Losing jobs were accommodation and food services, -1,200; arts, entertainment and recreation, -200; and information along with healthcare and social assistance, -100 each. Remaining unchanged were mining and logging and other services.

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