unemployment

RI Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.8 Percent

Flo Jonic — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:55:50 +0000

Rhode Island’s unemployment rate took a healthy drop in April. But the state is still a long way from restoring all the jobs lost to the recession.

Rhode Island’s April unemployment rate was 8.8 percent. That’s three tenths of one percent lower than in March and the lowest rate in four-and-a-half years. Charles Fogarty, director of the state Department of Labor and Training, attributes the decline to increased consumer confidence.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Lydia Rogers — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:00:32 +0000

The state's unemployment is at a 4 year low. A hearing on a same-sex marriage bill brought out hundreds. These stories and more on the RIPR Morning News Podcast.

Plus the guest on this week's Political Roundtable is the CEO of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Mike Stenhouse.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

Stenhouse: Rhode Island Needs to Take More Urgent Steps

Ian Donnis — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:28:46 +0000

As Rhode Island tries to overcome high unemployment, some observers argue that more urgent steps are needed to spark the economy. One of the groups making that argument is a free-market think tank, the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity. The center’s CEO, Mike Stenhouse, stopped by our studio to talk about a proposal to eliminate the sales tax and other issues.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

Good News on Jobs Front

Flo Jonic — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:19:12 +0000

Rhode Island’s unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in more than four years. The latest data from the state Labor Department indicates people may be finding work outside of the state.

Rhode Island Still Has Highest Unemployment Rate

Flo Jonic — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:26:24 +0000

Rhode Island still has the highest unemployment rate in the country, but now it shares that title with California. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Rhode Island and California tied for January unemployment with a rate of 9.8 percent. Nevada was close with 9.7 percent.

The rates are based on telephone surveys and may not be 100 percent accurate. Unemployment statistics are frequently revised when employer-driven data is collected.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

State Senate Unveils Plan to Boost Economy

Ian Donnis — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:21:04 +0000

The leadership of the state Senate Tuesday unveiled a legislative package of 25 bills meant to improve Rhode Island’s economy.

Heartening News for Rhode Island Economy

Flo Jonic — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:06:11 +0000

Two new reports suggest Rhode Island’s economy is on the rebound.

RI Jobless Rate Drops Slightly

Scott MacKay — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:25:39 +0000

In a sign that Rhode Island finally, albeit slowly, is emerging from the recession, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped slightly in January to 9.8 percent, from 9.9 percent in December.

The good news is that January represented the third consecutive month of job growth in the state. Hiring was led by the retail and restaurant industries. The jobless rate has dropped considerably since the high of 11.9 percent in January, 2010.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Lydia Rogers — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:01:33 +0000

The final Supreme Court ruling on the California law banning same-sex marriage may affect RI. Good news for RI's jobless rate. These stories and more on the RIPR Morning News Podcast.

Plus former EDC Director Saul Kaplan is this week's guest on Political Roundtable.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

Good news on the jobs front

Flo Jonic — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:31:46 +0000

A new analysis of labor data shows Rhode Island had a much stronger 3rd quarter than initially reported.

The state Department of labor and Training says there were 4900 more jobs during July, August and September of last year than previously estimated.

The number of Rhode Island-based jobs stood at 464,000, up 4900 from the official September 2012 estimate. The new estimate is basesd on the analysis of tax data from 32,000 businesses. The earlier estimate was based on a survey of businesses.