CRANSTON – Rhode Island’s unemployment rate last month rose 0.2 percentage points from August’s revised level to seasonally adjusted rate of 8.8 percent that was the highest since September 1992, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training (DLT) said today in its September jobs report.

The national unemployment rate, meanwhile, remained unchanged at 6.1 percent.

Nonfarm payrolls statewide declined to 478,200 – from August’s revised employment level of 479,500 – in its ninth consecutive decline, the DLT said. The number of Rhode Islanders on the unemployment rolls last month increased by 1,400 to 50,200. On a year-over-year basis, that’s an increase of 20,800.

At the same time, the state’s resident employment – the number of Rhode Islanders with jobs anywhere in the country – totaled 522,500 in September, increasing 300 from the previous month. (READ MORE) Still, year-over-year, that number has declined by 25,300.

Rhode Island’s largest job losses last month were in the “other services” category, which includes auto repair and maintenance, personal care services and social organizations. That category lost 400 jobs.

Losses of 200 jobs each were reported in manufacturing, health care and social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Wholesale trade, information, professional and business services, educational services and government lost 100 jobs each.

Offsetting those losses were gains of 200 jobs each in the accommodation and food services sector and the financial activities sector. The DLT said those gains were attributable to new jobs at food service establishments and increased insurance activities.

Compared with September 2007, the number of jobs on Rhode Island payrolls dropped 12,600, or 2.6 percent, the DLT said. The largest year-over-year losses were in manufacturing (-3,300), retail trade (-1,900), financial activities (-1,400), other services (-1,400), government (-1,300) and professional and business services (-1,200).

Two sectors experienced year-over-year gains: information services and educational services each witnessed an increase of 400 jobs since September 2007.

Manufacturing-production workers in Rhode Island earned an average hourly wage of $13.96 last month, up 5 cents from August and up 6 cents from a year ago. The average manufacturing work week in August was 38.8 hours, up 0.6 hours from August but 0.5 hours shorter than a year ago.

Additional information about the Rhode Island labor market is available from the R.I. Department of Labor and Training at www.dlt.ri.gov/lmi. To learn more about the services, programs and grant opportunities available through the DLT’s Employer Service Unit – or to meet with an employer-service representative – call 1-888-616-JOBS or visit www.dlt.ri.gov/employer.htm.