Washington County-Washington County employed 43,492 workers and paid over $354 million in wages during the third quarter of 2006, according to RI Employment and Wage Data by County, a new report by the RI Department of Labor and Training.

Adelita Orefice, director of the RI Department of Labor and Training, commented on the data: "Washington County is experiencing a significant growth in Health Care & Social Assistance sector jobs, as well as in the Transportation and Warehousing sector." The director added that the Health Care & Social Assistance sector grew by 414 jobs, or 6.6 percent, between the third quarter of 2005 and the third quarter of 2006, while the Transportation and Warehousing sector grew by 176 jobs, or 19.5 percent, during the same time period.

Governor Donald L. Carcieri added: "My administration has worked hard over the last four years to create jobs and generate business opportunities for all the counties in our state. As a result of these efforts, Rhode Island leads all New England states in percentage job growth since the end of the last recession. And, our state boasts the highest number of Rhode Island-based jobs in history."

Among the highlights for the Washington County area, which includes Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, New Shoreham, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown and Westerly, were:

• Combined, the sectors representing Retail Trade, Manufacturing, and Accommodation & Food Services comprise nearly 50 percent of the county's jobs
  
  
• The average weekly wage in Washington County in the third quarter of 2006 was $627, a 0.9 percent increase from the same time period last year. The statewide weekly wage for the third quarter of 2006 was $730, representing a 4% increase over last year. The sector with the highest paying weekly wage in the county was Wholesale Trade, with an average weekly wage of $1,246.
  
  
• While the Health Care & Social Assistance sector achieved the largest net gains of any sector in the county, the Manufacturing sector witnessed the largest net losses, with a drop of 403 jobs between the third quarter of 2005 and the third quarter of 2006.
  
  
• South Kingstown saw the highest job growth for a Washington County community between the third quarter of 2005 and the third quarter of 2006, adding 227 private sector jobs.

Statewide, Rhode Island generated approximately $4 billion in wages during the third quarter of 2006 and counted 424,450 in-state jobs. Of these jobs, nearly 60 percent were located in Providence County. Employment gains were reported in nearly all areas, with the largest gains noted in Providence Metro (+1,054), Newport County (+564) and Northern Rhode Island (+526). Bristol County was the only area to report job losses
(-168) during this period.

The RI Employment and Wage Data by County report offers the latest workforce data for Bristol, Kent, Newport and Washington Counties, as well as two distinct subsets of Providence County-Providence Metro and Northern RI. The most recent report focuses on the third quarter of 2006, which is defined as July 1 through September 30.

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The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training offers a wide array of employment and training services to both the general public and to individuals with unusual barriers to employment. DLT is ready to assist any job seeker, whether the goal is a first job, a better job, or a career change. Rhode Island's workforce is protected through the enforcement of labor laws, prevailing wage rates, and workplace health and safety standards. Temporary income support is available to unemployed, sick, or injured workers and a comprehensive rehabilitation program is available to those injured on the job.

DLT is dedicated to the growth and competitiveness of Rhode Island industry, administering a variety of training grants, tax credits, and apprenticeship programs to help employers. Economic indicators and labor market information are available for long-range planning. The Agency engages in active outreach, helping large and small employers retain their best workers or retrain their existing work force. At no cost to the employer, DLT will also screen job applicants, post job vacancies, and help businesses institute cost-sharing programs that can avert layoffs.

For more information on the innovative programs and services available to all Rhode Islanders at the Department of Labor and Training, please call (401) 462-8000 or visit the web site at www.dlt.ri.gov

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
TDD (401) 462-8006