More Rhode Island jobs are being lost, and the state is facing one of its highest unemployment rates ever.

During August, Rhode Island saw an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent, up from 7.8 percent in July and higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.1 percent. This is the state’s highest unemployment rate in 15 years, according to an article by the Associated Press. In August 2007, Rhode Island had an unemployment rate of 5.1 percent.

The number of unemployed people looking for a job increased to 48,800 during August, up 4,300 since July. The state lost 1,200 jobs from July to August, the eighth month in a row the state has lost jobs. It is expected the current crisis on Wall Street will only hinder the state, which has been in a recession for about a year.

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A Rhode Island retail job may be the way to go for those looking for a promising career.

Rhode Island employment overall is expected to increase by more than 55,000 jobs through 2014, when the total number of jobs should reach 573,437, an increase of 10.7 percent, or 55,292 jobs, from the 518,145 workers employed in 2004.

The retail trade industry currently employs about 53,000 workers, or about 10 percent of the state’s workforce, according to an article by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. The Retail Trade industry is projected to grow by 10 percent, adding more than 5,200 jobs through 2014.
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Throughout the past seven months many Rhode Island jobs have been lost.

During July, the State of Rhode Island employed 480,600 workers, a 1,700, or 2.6 percent, job decrease from June’s employment of 482,300, according to an article by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. This is the seventh month in a row the state has lost jobs. Rhode Island’s unemployment rate rose to 7.7 percent, the state’s highest since September 1993.

The number of unemployed residents who were actively seeking employment increased to 44,300, up from 15,300 last year. The number of employed residents was at 528,900, down 600 from June and down 18,200 from last year.

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Rhode Island teaching jobs are expected to grow faster than the statewide average for all jobs.

In July 2008, Rhode Island’s education and health services industry employed 99,900 people, an increase of .4 percent from last year, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

An increase of 55,000 Rhode Island jobs is expected through 2014, reaching 573,437 jobs, up 10.7 percent from 518,145 in 2004. More than 10 percent of the new jobs created will be in the education industry, according to an article by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. The industry is projected to employ 51,000 workers by 2014, an increase of 5,200 jobs, or 11.3 percent.

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