Governor Says RI Added Jobs In November

CRANSTON, RI—Some 600 new jobs were created in Rhode Island during November, Gov. Gina Raimondo said Thursday. The November Jobs Report counted 400 new manufacturing jobs and 500 in construction. But the net gain was only 600 due to offsetting losses in other sectors.

"In 2014, Rhode Island had the highest unemployment rate in America," she said. "But there was no reason for that to be the case: Our leaders at the time just weren't investing in our people. Over the last three years, we've invested in our hardworking, talented and determined neighbors. In recent years, Rhode Island has expanded access to job training, particularly for Rhode Islanders with manufacturing skills. Because of that focus, we've created 1,500 manufacturing jobs in the last year."

Also on the plus side, October jobs numbers were revised up, her office said. "The initial October report showed a loss of 200 jobs, but the revised data found that Rhode Island actually added 1,100 that month."

Meanwhile, the state unemployment rate is 4.3. That's higher than the nationwide rate of 4.1 percent. According to the Associated Press, Rhode Island's rate went up a tenth of a percentage point from October but still remains lower than it was during the recession.

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