Unemployment Insurance Statistics


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%
For more information on Unemployment Insurance, visit the UI web site at www.dlt.ri.gov/ui.
 

Link to DLT Home Page

Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
Labor Market Information
1511 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920-4407
Sandra M. Powell, Director

Phone: (401) 462-8740
Fax: (401) 462-8766
TDD: (401) 462-8006
E-mail LMI