Rhode Island’s private sector businesses had an estimated 10,949 job vacancies in Spring 2006. This translated into 3.5 job openings for every ten unemployed people between May and June 2006. An estimated 56 percent of these openings were full-time positions offering 35 hours or more per week, and 87 percent were permanent jobs.

In regards to vacancy duration, more than one-third of estimated openings were constantly being recruited for or always open for hire, while an additional 13 percent had been open for more than sixty days. Vacancies open for less than thirty days accounted for 36 percent of private sector job vacancies in Spring 2006.

Nearly 64 percent of the vacancies measured during the survey period required a high school diploma/GED or less, while an additional 8 percent asked for some vocational training. A college education was required for the remaining 28 percent of job openings, divided among associate (8%), bachelor (16%), and advanced (4%) degrees. As for experience requirements, more than half (52%) asked for job experience related to the position and 20 percent required potential hires to have general work experience.

The state’s estimated job vacancies offered a median wage range of between $11.00 and $12.00. Approximately 64 percent of job openings in Spring 2006 offered health insurance and 61 percent provided access to a pension or retirement savings plan. Other benefits were measured as well, including paid sick leave (53%), paid vacation (65%), and tuition reimbursement (40%). No benefits were offered with 27 percent of the job vacancies reported between May and June 2006.

In Spring 2006, more than sixty percent of Rhode Island’s estimated job openings, or 6,800 vacancies, were concentrated in three industry sectors: Health Care & Social Assistance (3,480), Accommodation & Food Services (2,001), and Retail Trade (1,347). The Manufacturing (965) and Finance & Insurance (584) sectors also reported large numbers of open positions.

Job vacancies were noted in more than 300 different occupations, including Registered Nurses, Waiters & Waitresses, Nursing Aides, Retail Salespersons, Personal & Home Care Aides, Cashiers, Restaurant Cooks, Customer Service Representatives, Teacher Assistants, Carpenters, Bus Drivers, and Financial Managers.

If you have any questions regarding the Rhode Island Job Vacancy Survey, or would like a hard copy of this publication, please contact LMI at (401) 462-8740 or lmi@dlt.ri.gov.