Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Rhode Island
Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as bandy around the idea of a by 2023. The last economic recession鈥攖he Great Recession of 2008-2010鈥攕ent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.
As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate , ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.
To that end, compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in Rhode Island using data from the . Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.
#5. Newport County
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 45,923 (1,214 unemployed)
#4. Bristol County
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 27,069 (721 unemployed)
#3. Washington County
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 71,637 (1,950 unemployed)
#2. Kent County
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 95,493 (2,763 unemployed)
#1. Providence County
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.7%
- Total labor force: 341,641 (12,460 unemployed)