Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island Unemployment
The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Providence rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Rhode Island rate. The unemployment rate in Providence peaked in April 2020 at 18.7% and is now 15.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in September 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Providence unemployment with unemployment in other cities.
| Unemployment Rate | November 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 3.7% | -0.1 | +0.1 |
| Rhode Island | 2.9% | +0.2 | -0.4 |
| Providence | 3.0% | +0.1 | -0.3 |
Unemployment Rate: Providence, Rhode Island, National
Note: Recessions shown in gray.
Providence, Rhode Island Unemployed
The number of people unemployed in Providence peaked in April 2020 at 125,590. There are now 104,586 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 19,732 in September 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,272. Providence employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Providence, Rhode Island) is also available.
| Unemployed Persons | November 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 21,004 | +852 | -2,373 |
Number of Unemployed Persons
Providence, Rhode Island Unemployment History
| Date | National Unemployment Rate |
Rhode Island Unemployment Rate |
Providence Unemployment Rate |
Providence Unemployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2023 |
3.7% | — | — | — |
| November 2023 |
3.7% | 2.9% | 3.0% | 21,004 |
| October 2023 |
3.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 20,152 |
| September 2023 |
3.8% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 19,732 |
| August 2023 |
3.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 20,498 |
| July 2023 |
3.5% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 21,359 |
| June 2023 |
3.6% | 2.9% | 3.3% | 22,882 |
| May 2023 |
3.7% | 3.0% | 3.3% | 23,132 |
| April 2023 |
3.4% | 3.0% | 3.3% | 23,410 |
| March 2023 |
3.5% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 23,777 |
| February 2023 |
3.6% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 23,134 |
| January 2023 |
3.4% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 22,914 |
1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
