The number of Rhode Island jobs lost during April were among the worst in the country.

Rhode Island, Ohio and West Virginia saw the biggest increases in unemployment during April, according to an article by Bloomberg. Rhode Island had an unemployment rate of 11.1 percent, the highest since 1976, while Ohio’s unemployment rate came in at 10.2 percent, the highest since 1983. West Virginia’s unemployment rate increased by .7 percent to 7.5 percent.

Overall, 18 states and the District of Columbia saw an increase in unemployment, while 21 states saw a decrease. The country as a whole has lost 5.7 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007, the biggest job loss since the Great Depression.

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One Rhode Island department is recruiting and training people interested in future RI social work jobs.

The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families is currently seeking candidates for its Pre-Service Training Academy, which prepares those interested in employment as juvenile program workers at the Rhode Island Training School for Youth.

Juvenile program workers provide for the custody, supervision and security of youth at the training school. Duties may include assisting in rehabilitation, education and treatment of youth.

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More medical jobs in Rhode Island will be created, as 10 community healthcare centers throughout the state have received $4 million in federal stimulus money.

The 10 community health centers in Rhode Island serve about 112,000 people. According to an article by The Providence Journal, eight of those meet standards to qualify for federal funds. The money will not only be used to serve poor and uninsured Rhode Island residents, but also to bring healthcare to those who might not have had access to it before.

“Here, care is coordinated,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said in the article. “Here, patients have electronic medical records … They’re actually showing a model for how some of America’s most well-off might be better served.”

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A continued focus on energy preservation will help create and maintain Rhode Island jobs.

Gov. Donald L. Carcieri recently announced that the Office of Economic Recovery and Reinvestment has created an Energy Review Team to help develop a statewide energy plan for the investment of funds available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The team also will help develop a statewide, competitive grant process to distribute funds for energy programs.

Under the ARRA, Rhode Island will receive $58 million in funds dedicated to a number of energy initiatives, including $20 million for weatherization programs; $14.5 million for state and municipal programs and $24 million for other energy activities.

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