CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.4% in January, down one-tenth of a percentage point from December, the state Department of Labor and Training announced Thursday.
It was also three-tenths of a percentage point lower than the January 2019 rate of 3.7%, according to the department.
Rhode Island’s January unemployment rate was two-tenths of a percentage point lower than national rate of 3.6%.
The state’s January non-farm job count of 505,500 dropped by 200 from the revised December job count of 505,700.
While seven sectors reported small job losses in January, they were offset by gains in accommodations and food services; professional and business services; and health care and social assistance sectors.
The number of unemployed Rhode Island residents - those classified as available for and actively seeking employment - was 18,900. That was down 400 from December.
More than 11,600 people filed for unemployment insurance benefits in January, a decrease of 1,066 from the year-ago month.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.