Department of Numbers

Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Providence rose 0.1 percentage points in March 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Rhode Island rate. The unemployment rate in Providence peaked in April 2020 at 18.7% and is now 15.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.3% in November 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Providence unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.5% -0.1 -0.1
Rhode Island 3.1% 0.0 +0.1
Providence 3.4% +0.1 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2023 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Providence, Rhode Island, National

Providence, Rhode Island monthly unemployment rate chart

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 101,825 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 22,914 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 851. Providence employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Providence, Rhode Island) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Providence 23,765 +631 -1,346

Number of Unemployed Persons

Providence, Rhode Island Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Rhode Island
Unemployment Rate
Providence
Unemployment Rate
Providence
Unemployed
April
2023
3.4%
March
2023
3.5% 3.1% 3.4% 23,765
February
2023
3.6% 3.1% 3.3% 23,134
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.3% 22,914
December
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.3% 23,331
November
2022
3.6% 3.3% 3.3% 23,377
October
2022
3.7% 3.4% 3.4% 23,548
September
2022
3.5% 3.4% 3.4% 23,830
August
2022
3.7% 3.4% 3.4% 24,014
July
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.4% 24,112
June
2022
3.6% 3.1% 3.4% 24,222
May
2022
3.6% 3.0% 3.5% 24,401

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.