Rhode Island job seekers may have a difficult time finding new employment unless they are willing to commute outside the state for work. According to a recent report published by the JPMorgan Chase Economic Outlook Center, which is an affiliate of the L. William Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University, Rhode Island is leading the nation-but not in a good way. The state has the highest percentage of jobs lost in the country for the period of time between July 2007 and July 2008.

During the 12 month span, Rhode Island jobs fell by 2.8 percent. Also making the list of state’s that lost a significant number of employment opportunities was Arizona, where job growth experienced a 1.6 percent decline.

The state that faired the best in the nation was Wyoming, which had a jobs growth rate of 2.5 percent. The other four states that rounded out the top five in job creation were Texas, Louisiana, Colorado and South Dakota.

Rhode Island’s loss of a significant number of jobs helps to explain why unemployment insurance claims are currently higher than usual, Accordinging to the state Department of Labor and Training.

At this time, the number of unemployment claimants has risen by 10.8 percent when compared to the same period of time last year. When viewed beside 2006’s statistics, the figures appear even more dismal, showing an 16.1 percent increase.

Because of Rhode Island’s lack luster job market, state officials began offering unemployed residents an additional 13 weeks of federally funded “emergency” benefits for eligible claimants who had already exhausted their regular unemployment on July 6th. As of the week ending on August 23rd, there were 453 new individuals filing for the extension of unemployment pay.

In July 7.7 percent of Rhode Island’s population was without work, which is the highest the figure has risen since 1993. Many are concerned about what they will do when their “emergency” benefits run out if the job market situation doesn’t make some drastic changes with in the next few weeks. For the time being, the best advice is for job seekers to extend the radius of their employment search and consider looking to areas right outside the state’s borders if local searches are yielding no promising opportunities.

Labels: Rhode Island jobs