CRANSTON, R.I. – Jobs at Rhode Island businesses rose by 400 in January as the state’s unemployment rate increased to 4.5 percent. Over the year, jobs were down 2,200 from January 2025, and the unemployment rate was unchanged.
Rhode Island’s Labor Force
The January unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from the December rate. Last year, the rate was 4.5 percent in January.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in January, down one-tenth of a percentage







































