PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island had the third-highest unemployment rate in New England in January at 3.1 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The national unemployment rate rose in two states and Washington in January, fell in five states and was steady in 42 states from the previous month, the agency reported Monday. The unemployment rate in the nation’s capital and 15 states was lower than in January 2022, the data showed.
In January, the unemployment rate was 3.4 percent. That’s down from 3.5% in December and 0.6 percentage points lower than in January 2022.
In January, Nevada had the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 5.5 percent, while North Dakota and South Dakota had the lowest at 2.2 percent each.
New England unemployment rate in January.
- Connecticut, 4.8%, up from 4% in December and the same as a year ago.
- Massachusetts: 3.6%, up from 3.7% in December and 4% in January 2022
- Rhode Island, 3.1%, down from 3.6% in December, which was also the third highest in the region, and from 4.5% in January 2022.
- Maine: 2.9%, down from 3.1% in December and 3.6% from January 2022.
- Vermont: 2.9%, down from 3% in December but up from 2.6% in January 2022.
- New Hampshire: 2.8%, down from 2.9% in December but up from 2.3% in January 2022.
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