If you are not happy with the results below please do another search
During no period, from 1965 to 2000, did young, single college graduates increase in number in Rhode Island, according to the U.S. Census.
New Shoreham’s March unemployment of 29.5% (not seasonally adjusted) is high by any measure, but it may be more concerning that both summer peaks and winter troughs have been lower than any time since 1994.
At 8.5% (not seasonally adjusted) Narragansett’s unemployment rate is low, for RI, but the reason is that its labor force adjusts more than usual to gained and lost employment.
Hopkinton grew, in population and economically, over the last decade, but since 2010, employment has stagnated as the labor force recedes.
Throughout the ’90s and most of the last decade, Exeter was on a path of growth, but 2007 brought an end to employment increases, and 2008 lost jobs. Now, the town’s unemployment rate is 12.2% (not seasonally adjusted).
Charlestown’s unemployment puts it well above the overall rate for the state and results from more than four years of continual employment declines.
Woonsocket’s number of employed residents has never been lower, in the 22 years of DLT data, and the only thing keeping its unemployment rate steady is the rapid decrease in labor force.
Smithfield’s unemployment rate has improved a little since 2010, but the reason is that its labor force has fallen off while its number of employed residents has mostly stagnated.
Scituate’s employment and population trends aren’t far from the typical RI town, and its not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate is below the state’s overall number. However, the town has been on a consistent downward drift for a number of years.
Although no employment pictures are positive, in Rhode Island, Providence’s is a mixed bag. Still, all positive spin must be tempered with the fact that so few of its residents are interested in working, with only 40% actually employed. Its unemployment rate would be around 30% if it were like other cities and towns.
Standing in static comparison with other RI cities and towns, Pawtucket’s employment statistics are bad, but not state-leading. It’s the longer-term view of the city’s decline that ought to be a matter of concern.
North Smithfield’s unemployment rate of 10.1% (not seasonally adjusted) is largely attributable to the rapid growth of its labor force during the last decade.
North Providence’s low-for-Rhode-Island unemployment rate masks the fact that the city’s number of employed residents has never been lower in the DLT’s 22 years of data.
Lincoln’s employment trend over the last decade was along the typical Rhode Island line, with labor force growing substantially while employment receded. Since 2010, however, the town’s situation has not improved, although it remains better situated than the state overall.
At 12.9% (not seasonally adjusted), Johnston has among the highest unemployment rates in Rhode Island. Like some other cities and towns, however, Much of the employment gap results from the presence of additional people in the workforce.
In a comparison that plays out in other competing communities in RI, Foster and Glocester exhibit an interesting dynamic. Foster has significantly higher unemployment, but its number of employed residents is up, while Glocester’s is down. The difference is the number of people who want to work.
Not seasonally adjusted, East Providence’s unemployment rate of 12.8% is well above the state’s average. With its total employment near a record low and its labor force nearly there, as well, it’s even more concerning that unemployed residents remain near the high.
In terms of employment change from 2000 to 2010, Portsmouth is pretty much the typical RI town. The town weathered the recession well, until 2010, and its seasonal swings create an interesting comparison with the rest of Aquidneck Island.
Cumberland is somewhat unique in Rhode Island, in that from 2000 to 2010 it gained employment. Still, its labor force grew more quickly, so its unemployment is still high, and all numbers are down from their boom-time peak.
Cranston’s unemployment rate is below that of RI overall. Most interesting, though, is how trends in employment compare with those in Warwick, for very different results.
The not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for Central Falls was 15.6% in March and would be much higher if the same percentage of the population were in the labor force as in other RI cities and towns.
Burrillville’s unemployment rate equals the statewide average of 11.8% mainly because the town’s employment has not matched its growing labor force. Consequently, unemployment is near the town’s all-time high.
Tiverton’s employment trend is characterized by ten-year growth in population and labor force that wasn’t matched by employment. In recent months, improvement in unemployment results only from a fast-falling overall labor force.
Newport joins its neighbor, Middletown, in having very high unemployment, as well as a dramatic downward trend in its population and employment data.
Middletown’s February unemployment is high compared with the rest of the state, at 13.4%, and January’s was the highest in 22 years of data. More concerning is that those numbers were achieved even as the total labor force shrank.
Although Little Compton is among Rhode Island’s wealthiest communities, the town has seen an above-average drop in employment and its unemployment rate is still high.
According to RI Dept. of Labor and Training statistics, the number of employed residents in Jamestown fell 7.6% from 2000 to 2010. The town’s number of employed residents has almost returned to its level before the new bridge to the mainland eased travel to the island in 1992.
West Warwick leads Kent County in unemployment, in part because its total labor force grew 4.1% at the same time that the total number of residents working or looking for work (its labor force) increased 4.9%.
West Greenwich’s employment data (while of limited confidence, given the small population) tells a story of consistent growth, until the current recession moved its unemployment rate above that of the state overall.
Warwick’s employment story appears to be one of lost population and lost employment. As with some of RI’s other cities and towns, Warwick’s number of employed residents has never been lower in the twenty-two years of data.