According to the most recent unemployment statistics, finding jobs in Rhode Island was more difficult for may in September than it had been in previous months. The percentage of the population without work rose to 8.8 percent last month, which is the highest its been since 1992.

Experts have said that Rhode Island entered into a recession over a year ago. Wall Street’s most recent struggle has only made the problem worse, meaning that jobs in Rhode Island are harder to come by those in many states.

Economist Edward Mazze said that the area’s suffering housing market has only added to the problem. He believes that it is unlikely that the state will recover until late 2009 or early 2010.

“We were definitely first into the recession, and right now it looks like we could be the last out of the recession,” said Mazze, who used to be the dean of the College of Business Administration at University of Rhode Island.

In August the state’s unemployment rate stood at 8.6 percent, while the national average was 6.1 percent. Approximately 1,300 jobs in Rhode Island were lost between August and September, according to the state’s Department of Labor and Training. Augusts’ Rhode Island unemployment rate was the second worst in the nation. In September the state’s jobless rate surpassed Michigan’s 8.7 percent unemployment to become the worst in the country.

Currently the number of residents who are not are working is around 50,200, a figure which the state began tracking in 1976.

During the same period last year Rhode Island lost 12,600 jobs. Of these positions, 3,300 were in the manufacturing sector, 1,900 in retail, 1,400 in the financial industry and 1,300 in the government sector.

Labels: Jobs in Rhode Island, Rhode Island jobs

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

The number of residents unable to find a Rhode Island job rose again during June. According to the most recent statistics, 7.5 percent of the population is now unable to find work. This is the highest the figure has been in almost 15 years. With the national average being significantly lower at 5.5 percent, Rhode Island now has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

A newly released state Department of Labor and Training survey showed that over 42,000 residents are without a job but looking for employment. So far this year, Rhode Island has lost approximately 8,600 jobs. The industries which have suffered the most include manufacturing, professional and business services and the financial sector.

The state could potentially lose 500 more jobs in the near future due to the U.S. Navy deciding against building a new generation of destroyers. These ships were to have been computers designed by subcontractor Raytheon Co, which may see the need to layoff a number of different workers now that Navy officials have changed their plans.

Recently Navy Secretary Donald Winter made it known to members of Congress that the Navy will only be purchasing two Zumwalt-class destroyers. Originally, these high-tech stealth ships were planned to replace the smaller Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Price has likely played a huge part in this decision, as Zumwalts have been estimated to cost as much as twice the $1.3 billion Arleigh Burkes.

Subcontractor Raytheon will still be responsible for designing, building and installing the electronic systems on both of these vessels. These computers will be responsible for everything from commanding the launch of missiles to sending e-mails, says company spokesperson Guy T. Shields. He had no estimate on the exact number of individuals at Raytheon’s Rhode Island facility are actually working on the project.

At this point, the company is still unsure of how the Navy’s recent announcement will effect the jobs of those who were to be assigned on the originally larger scale project. “We don’t know because the Navy hasn’t talked to us,” Shields said.

Labels: Rhode Island jobs