RI unemployment rate holds steady as 12.7 percent; gains in food and business services
By APFriday, March 5, 2010
RI unemployment rate holds steady at 12.7 percent
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island’s unemployment rate held steady at 12.7 percent in January, but joblessness here still outpaced the rest of the nation.
The state has suffered from one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. By comparison, the national unemployment rate was 9.7 percent.
Statistics released Friday showed 73,300 people were looking for work in January, or 500 more than the previous month.
At the same time, the state benefited from job gains in the accommodation and food services sector and in business services. But workers in wholesale trade, construction, transportation and retail experienced job losses.
After reviewing tax records, state officials say that unemployment last year hit a peak in December at 12.7 percent, not 13 percent as originally estimated.
