Characteristics of the Insured Unemployed

Characteristics of the Insured Unemployed
July 2008
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In July 2008, 34 percent of Rhode Island’s unemployed workers were eligible to collect Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. Numbering 15,910 people, these "insured unemployed" accounted for 3.0 percent of the State’s total employed (unadjusted). Nearly 25 percent (3,891) of the Ocean State’s insured unemployed faced long-term unemployment, defined as collecting unemployment benefits for more than fourteen weeks.

Twenty-four percent (3,814) of the people receiving UI benefits were between the ages of 35 and 44, while roughly 26 percent (4,209) were 45 to 54 years old. Over 23 percent of all insured unemployed workers 60 years and older had been collecting benefits for at least fourteen weeks, while 22 percent of those under 22 years of age and 25 percent of 22 to 24 year olds were considered long-term unemployed.

In July, more than 45 percent (7,212) of those collecting UI benefits had just a high school diploma. An additional 2,010 people (12.6%) had less than a high school diploma, while 18.1 percent (2,878) of the insured unemployed had at least a Bachelor’s degree. Twenty-five percent of insured unemployed workers with less than a high school diploma had been collecting benefits for a minimum of fourteen weeks, while 21.8 percent of those with at least a Bachelor’s degree were also considered long-term unemployed.

On an industry basis, 14.1 percent (2,248) of the State’s insured unemployed workers came from the Manufacturing sector. There were also 1,737 individuals with an attachment to the Accommodation & Food Services sector, accounting for 10.9 percent of all insured unemployed workers. An additional 10.8 percent (1,720) of those collecting UI benefits in July had worked in the Health Care & Social Assistance sector. Large numbers of insured unemployed were also reported in Construction (1,520), Retail Trade (1,501) and Transportation & Warehousing (1,315).

Those previously employed in Office & Administration Support occupations accounted for more than 16 percent (2,604) of the State’s insured unemployed. A large number of workers previously employed in Production (1,893), Transportation & Material Moving (1,736), Food Preparation & Serving Related (1,473) and Sales & Related (869) occupations also collected UI benefits in July. Numerous occupational groups reported concentrations of long-term unemployment above the state average, including Life, Physical & Social Science (38.7%), Installation, Maintenance & Repair (36.1%), Legal (33.8%) and Office & Administrative Support (32.8%).

Characteristics of the Insured Unemployed July 2008
	Total	Long-Term	Percent Long-Term
Total	15,910	3,891	24.5%
Male	7,084	2,003	28.3%
Female	8,826	1,888	21.4%

Age	15,910	3,891	24.5%
Under 22	423	94	22.2%
22 - 24	769	195	25.4%
25 - 34	3,161	837	26.5%
35 - 44	3,814	926	24.3%
45 - 54	4,209	1,012	24.0%
55 - 59	1,498	351	23.4%
60 - 64	1,043	268	25.7%
65 or over	993	208	20.9%

Education	15,910	3,891	24.5%
Less than 9th Grade	585	154	26.3%
9th to 12th, no diploma	1,425	348	24.4%
High School Graduate	7,212	1,836	25.5%
Some College	2,943	781	26.5%
Bachelor's Degree	1,527	323	21.2%
Beyond Bachelor's	1,351	305	22.6%

Selected Industries	15,910	3,891	24.5%
Construction	1,520	429	28.2%
Manufacturing	2,248	724	32.2%
Wholesale Trade	543	178	32.8%
Retail Trade	1,501	520	34.6%
Transportation & Warehousing	1,315	115	8.7%
Information	189	66	34.9%
Finance & Insurance	797	250	31.4%
Real Estate	292	90	30.8%
Professional & Tech. Services	764	185	24.2%
Administrative & Waste Services	1,209	265	21.9%
Educational Services	547	47	8.6%
Health Care & Social Assistance	1,720	429	24.9%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	249	76	30.5%
Accommodation & Food Services	1,737	228	13.1%
Other Services	511	156	30.5%
Public Administration	219	24	11.0%

Selected Occupations	15,910	3,892	24.5%
Business & Financial Operations	472	139	29.4%
Computer & Mathematical	144	39	27.1%
Architecture & Engineering	138	43	31.2%
Life, Physical & Social Science	75	29	38.7%
Community & Social Services	190	47	24.7%
Legal	65	22	33.8%
Education, Training & Library	833	42	5.0%
Arts, Design, Ent., Sports & Media	244	45	18.4%
Healthcare Practitioner & Technical	237	70	29.5%
Healthcare Support	297	86	29.0%
Protective Service	224	30	13.4%
Food Preparation & Serving Related	1,473	176	11.9%
Bldg. & Grounds Cleaning & Maint.	220	69	31.4%
Personal Care & Service	368	70	19.0%
Sales & Related	869	270	31.1%
Office & Administrative Support	2,604	853	32.8%
Construction & Extraction	763	225	29.5%
Installation, Maintenance & Repair	487	176	36.1%
Production	1,893	544	28.7%
Transportation & Material Moving	1,736	240	13.8%