Contact:
Donna Murray (401) 462-8751
Robert Langlais (401) 462-8767
Labor Market Information
November 25, 2005

Adelita S. Orefice, Director of the Department of Labor and Training, announced today that Rhode Island employers will pay Unemployment Insurance taxes according to Tax Schedule I during 2006 - the same tax schedule in effect for 2005. Depending on their experience with layoffs, employer tax rates will range from 1.69% to 9.79%. Rhode Island employers will be notified of their individual 2006 tax rates by the end of December.

The payroll tax for new employers - those who have not been covered by the Employment Security Act for three full years as of September 30, 2005 - will be 2.34% in 2006. The new employer rate for 2005 is 2.04%. The above employer tax rates do not include the Job Development Assessment of 0.21% that is paid by all taxable employers.

The wage base on which Employment Security taxes will be paid during the 2006 tax year will remain at $16,000. The Employment Security fund had a balance of $186.6 million as of September 30, 2005. This was only $3.9 million less than one year ago.

The Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) taxable wage base will be $50,600 in 2006, an increase of $1,600 over the 2005 base of $49,000. The employee contribution rate for TDI will remain at 1.4 percent in 2006. The TDI fund had a balance of $91.9 million as of September 30, 2005. This was a decrease of $6.9 million from the prior year.

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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 work force is protected through the enforcement of labor laws, prevailing wage rates, and work place 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 our 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