September 16, 2022
United States Employment Situation
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for the 50 states and DC released at 10:00am on September 16, 2022In August, unemployment fell in 7 states, rose in 32, and remained unchanged in 12.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in District of Columbia. The lowest unemployment rate was 1.9 percent in Minnesota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.7 percent.
In August, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 14. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.4 percent in Kentucky. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in Mississippi.
Rhode Island Employment Situation
Rhode Island added 2,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.8 percent in August.
Over the past twelve months, Rhode Island added 16,000 payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 3 percentage points from 5.8 percent.
In August, Rhode Island’s private sector added 1,300 net private payroll jobs and over the past twelve months it added 13,200 private payroll jobs in the establishment survey.
In the household survey, the number of unemployed rose by 991 on net in August, and over the past year employment rose by 17,971.
Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.7 percent in August from 63.6 percent. Since last year, the labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage point.
Rhode Island Payroll Employment
Rhode Island added 2,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 200 jobs. Over the past twelve months, Rhode Island added 16,000 payroll jobs, or 3.3 percent. Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employment had increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 315,000 in August, or rose by 0.2 percent. Over the 12-month period ending with August, nonfarm payrolls rose by 5,840,000 jobs, or 4 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 19th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
During August, Rhode Island’s private-sector added 1,300 jobs, or approximately 0.3 percent. The private-sector in Rhode Island lost 200 jobs in the prior month. Over the past twelve months, private-sector payrolls in Rhode Island added 13,200, or 3.1 percent. Rhode Island private-sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private-sector payroll jobs rose by 308,000 jobs in August, or 0.2 percent. Over the past 12 months, the national payroll rose by 5,702,000 jobs in the private sector, or 4.6 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 32nd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a percentage gain in private-sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during August were Professional and Business Services (3,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,300). The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-200) and Education and Health Services (-1,000).
The best performing sectors during the last twelve months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (25,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (18,900). The poorest performing sectors during the last twelve months were Mining and Logging (300) and Construction (-1,100).
Rhode Island Labor Force Statistics
Labor Force Participation
The labor force participation rate in Rhode Island rose to 63.7 percent in August from 63.6 percent in the prior month. At a labor force participation rate of 63.7 percent, Rhode Island is tied for 19th in the nation. The labor force participation rate in Rhode Island fell by 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island was 66.3 percent last occurring in December 2012. The series high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island last occurred in January 2007 when the labor force participation rate hit 68.4 percent. The 10-year low for the labor force participation rate was 61 percent in April 2020. This also represents the series low for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.3 percentage
points over the month to 62.4 percent in August. That rate rose by 0.7
percentage point from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national
labor force participation rate was 67.3 percent in April 2000. The
10-year high for the national labor force participation rate was 63.8
percent in October 2012. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020
at a level of 60.2 percent. The series low for the national labor force
participation rate was 58.1 percent in December 1954.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
The employment-to-population ratio, or the percentage of the Rhode Island civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and older counted as employed, in August remained unchanged. At 61.9 percent, Rhode Island ranks 18th among state employment-to-population ratios in the nation. The employment-to-population ratio in Rhode Island rose by 1.7 percentage points from a year earlier.
The 10-year high for the employment-to-population ratio in Rhode Island was 62.2 percent last occurring in November 2019. The series high for the employment-to-population ratio in Rhode Island last occurred in January 1989 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 65.5 percent. The 10-year low for the employment-to-population ratio was 49.8 percent in April 2020. This also represents the series low for the employment-to-population ratio in Rhode Island.
The national employment-to-population ratio rose by 0.1 percentage point over the month to 60.1 percent in August. That rate rose by 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national employment-to-population rato was 64.7 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national employment-to-population ratio was 61.2 percent in February 2020. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 51.3 percent. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio was 51.3 percent in April 2020.
State employment and unemployment data for September is scheduled for release October 21, 2022. The national employment situation report for September will be released October 07, 2022.