CRANSTON, R.I. -- The Rhode Island unemployment rate rose slightly from April to May, increasing from 8.8 percent to 8.9 percent, according to figures released Thursday by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.
The number of unemployed Rhode Islanders, defined as out of work and actively seeking employment, rose by 200, from 49,400 in April to to 49,600 in May.
The state lost 200 jobs between April and May, bringing the total estimated non-farm payroll in the state to 466,900, with the largest job loss occuring in the educational sector.
The Massachusetts unemployment rate rose from 6.4 percent in April to 6.6 percent in May, although the state reported a gain of 3,500 jobs. In Connecticut, the unemployment rate remained steady at 8 percent.