April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026

Download the full PDF for Rhode Island

Download the summary PDF for Rhode Island

United States

Employment snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in North Dakota.

Rhode Island

Employment snapshot

• In April, Rhode Island lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island lost 2,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Rhode Island’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Rhode Island fell by 2,361, and over the past 12 months it fell by 10,691.

• Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.9 percent in April from 63.2 percent and ranks 23rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points.

---

Rhode Island

Payroll employment

• Rhode Island lost 500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,100 jobs. Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Rhode Island lost 500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,100 jobs. Rhode Island private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From March 2026 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Manufacturing (+300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-600) and Private Education and Health Services (-200).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+900) and Leisure and Hospitality (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,000) and Professional and Business Services (-1,000).

Rhode Island

Labor force

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 labor force participation rate in Rhode Island fell to 62.9 percent in April from 63.2 percent in the prior month.

• Rhode Island ranks 23rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island was 64.7 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.