Rhode Island’s economy remains in the doldrums. That’s the takeaway from the latest unemployment and jobs data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor and Training
The state’s jobless rate inched up from 5.4 percent to 5.5 percent in June. The good news is that the state gained 1,700 jobs. The bad news is that job growth remains sluggish, with a decline of 100 jobs in the first six months of 2016.
And Rhode Island has regained only about 80 percent of the nearly 40,000 jobs lost during the recession.
By contrast, the Massachusetts unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in June, and the Bay State added 16,400 jobs. In Connecticut, the job gain was about 8,000, but unemployment rose from 5.7 to 5.8 percent.
“Our economy’s gain of 1,700 jobs is welcome news but still have significant room for improvement,’’ said Gov. Gina Raimondo in a news release.
