How many jobs were lost in Rhode Island last month?
Refreshed monthly
Rhode Island lost 1,600 jobs in September 2026, ranking it 39th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 495 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-1.6K
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
39th
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
Rhode Island’s job loss of 1,600 in September 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 100 gain in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), Rhode Island gained jobs in 39 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the fourth-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in April 2022 (+3,900) while job growth was weakest in April 2023 (-3,300).
There were 1,600 fewer jobs in September 2026 in Rhode Island than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Rhode Island sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in September 2026 were construction, arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services. Construction added 500 jobs, more than the entire economy. Arts, entertainment, and recreation gained 500 jobs, while accommodation and food services added 300 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were private educational services, administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, and finance and insurance. private educational services lost 1,200 jobs in September 2026, while administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 600 jobs and finance and insurance lost 500 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 200 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Rhode Island (September 2026)
How has Rhode Island's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Rhode Island lost an average of 142 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 558, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fifth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 1,300 on average every month in 2008 to a gain of 1,000 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Rhode Island lost an average of 142 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Rhode Island
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | -1,200 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
