Declining sales and consumer confidence could result in the loss of more Rhode Island retail jobs.

Rhode Island, among many other states, is feeling the pressure of the declining economy. During October the state had an unemployment rate of 9.3 percent, up from 8.8 percent during September and higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.5 percent. According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state had a total non-farm employment of 476,000, down from 478,400 during September and a 3 percent decrease from last year.

According to an article by Reuters, many retail sales jobs are being lost. It’s sort of a Catch-22, as more people lose their jobs, more people can’t afford to shop, causing more retail workers to lose their jobs, and so on.

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A new initiative could help save local Rhode Island retail jobs.

Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Chairwoman of the Small Business Advocacy Council, recently announced the launch of Buy Local RI, a new economic development initiative to help support local businesses. The initial phase of Buy Local RI will be a public awareness campaign encouraging Rhode Island residents to support local businesses by shopping locally, especially for the holidays.

“The economy in Rhode Island is struggling,” Roberts said in a press release. “As we look at our economy turning down, we need to invest our dollars here in Rhode Island. One of the best things we can do is to support local businesses.

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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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