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

AP

Story Created: Sep 19, 2008 at 1:39 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 19, 2008 at 6:17 PM EDT

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..

Next article City Councilors Want Change, Answers

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Saturday, Sep 20 at 1:44 PM Alex wrote ...

I have a job in ri! yay for me!

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Saturday, Sep 20 at 2:11 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.

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