A Flash player error has occured, please make sure you have the latest Adobe Flash Player. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tools

RI Sees Highest Jobless Rate in 15 Years; 2nd Worst in the Nation

AP

Story Created: Sep 19, 2008 at 12:39 PM EST

Story Updated: Sep 19, 2008 at 5:17 PM EST

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A record number of Rhode Island workers were searching for a job last month as the unemployment rate rose to 8.5 percent.
     
It's the highest jobless rate in 15 years and more than 2 percentage points above the U.S. unemployment rate of 6.1 percent.  Only Michigan posed a worse unemployment rate, reaching 8.9 percent.
     
A report released today by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training showed that the number of people looking for work in August grew to a record-breaking total of 48,800. That's equivalent to the population of East Providence.
     
Governor Carcieri says the current economy is among the toughest the state has faced in years.
     
Economists say Rhode Island has been in a recession for a year.

ABC 6 reporter Parker Gavigan has more..

Saturday, Sep 20 at 12:44 PM Alex wrote ...

I have a job in ri! yay for me!

Saturday, Sep 20 at 1:11 AM Ed from Providence wrote ...

We spent money from the Garvey Bonds, these bonds were used to build a freight railroad track from Pawtucket to Quonset Point. But no trains have used the track, since it was built for container trains that carry double stack containers. It will not be used until a container port is built, the govenor will not tell the NIMBY's of North Kingston where to get off. The US NAVY requires two berths for aircraft carriers which are the same size as the large container ships. More people for Rite care.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Please post your full name and city on comments.

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

ABC 6 and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Online Poll

What Do You Think of the State's New Ability to Track Illegal Immigrants?

  • I Like it, illegal immigrants are finding work easily while I rot in line at the unemployment office
  • Bad Idea, These people are taking sub-minimum wage jobs anyway and actual citizens are getting snared in this E-Verify system

AP Video