December 2024

Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Rhode Island Employment Snapshot

• In December, Rhode Island lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island added 5,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.2 percentage points from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Rhode Island’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Rhode Island fell by 764, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,256.

• Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.6 percent in December from 64.8 percent and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.9 percentage points.

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Rhode Island Payroll Employment

• Rhode Island lost 400 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 600 jobs. Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 38th 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 December. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 500 jobs. Rhode Island private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (500) and Leisure and Hospitality (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-400) and Education and Health Services (-700).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (2,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Other Services (-900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,900).

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 64.6 percent in December from 64.8 percent in the prior month.

• Rhode Island ranks 19th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island was 65.2 percent occurring in August 2024, and the 10-year low was 61 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.