PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island’s unemployment rate has fallen to 8.3 percent in April, down four-tenths of a percentage rate from the previous month.
The state Department of Labor and Training on Thursday says the rate is the lowest it has been in more than 5 ½ years, since August 2008.
It’s still significantly higher than the U.S. unemployment rate, which was 6.3 percent in April. The state has had one of the highest jobless rates in the nation for years, and was worst in the country in March.
The state’s unemployment rate was 9.5 percent this time last year.
The state says the number of jobs in the state increased by 700 during April, and the number of employed residents increased by 3,600.
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