Rhode Island’s unemployment rate hit 6% among residents aged 16 and 65 years old in 2021. That’s 35,428 people out of the 1,091,949 living in Rhode Island at the time, according to data U.S. Census Bureau data obtained on Oct. 26, 2023.
The unemployment rate in Rhode Island has increased compared to the 5.5% registered in 2020.
The percentage of people unemployed in Rhode Island was greater than the national unemployment rate of 5.5%.
Of the 557,038 people who had a job during that time, 4,331 were employed in the Armed Forces and 552,707 belonged to the civilian labor force.
Employment Status in Rhode Island During 2021
| Employment status | Number of people | Percentage of population |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployed | 35,428 | 6% |
| Employed | 557,038 | 94% |
| Employed in civilian labor force | 552,707 | 93.3% |
| Employed in armed forces | 4,331 | 0.7% |
