BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
12/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/05/2025 10:14
Rhode Island Job Openings and Labor Turnover — August 2025
News Release Information
25-1561-BOS
Friday, December 05, 2025
Contacts Technical information:
- (646) 264-3600
- [email protected]
- www.bls.gov/regions/northeast
- (646) 264-3600
Rhode Island Job Openings and Labor Turnover - August 2025
Rhode Island had 24,000 job openings in August 2025, compared to 26,000 openings in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Acting Regional Commissioner Michael G. Phinney noted that the job openings rate in Rhode Island was 4.5 percent in August and 4.8 percent in the previous month. (See chart 1 and table 2.) The job openings rate nationally was 4.3 percent in August, unchanged from July. (See table 3.) All data in this release are seasonally adjusted.
View Chart Data
Chart 1. Job openings rates for the United States and Rhode Island, seasonally adjusted
| Month | Rhode Island | United States |
|
Aug 2021 |
7.5 | 6.9 |
|
Sep 2021 |
7.5 | 6.9 |
|
Oct 2021 |
7.6 | 7.1 |
|
Nov 2021 |
7.0 | 6.9 |
|
Dec 2021 |
7.2 | 7.1 |
|
Jan 2022 |
7.6 | 7.0 |
|
Feb 2022 |
8.0 | 7.2 |
|
Mar 2022 |
7.7 | 7.4 |
|
Apr 2022 |
8.0 | 7.3 |
|
May 2022 |
7.4 | 7.0 |
|
Jun 2022 |
7.6 | 6.9 |
|
Jul 2022 |
7.0 | 7.1 |
|
Aug 2022 |
6.5 | 6.2 |
|
Sep 2022 |
6.4 | 6.6 |
|
Oct 2022 |
6.5 | 6.4 |
|
Nov 2022 |
6.2 | 6.4 |
|
Dec 2022 |
6.5 | 6.6 |
|
Jan 2023 |
5.6 | 6.3 |
|
Feb 2023 |
6.7 | 6.0 |
|
Mar 2023 |
6.0 | 5.8 |
|
Apr 2023 |
5.8 | 6.0 |
|
May 2023 |
5.6 | 5.6 |
|
Jun 2023 |
5.1 | 5.6 |
|
Jul 2023 |
5.2 | 5.2 |
|
Aug 2023 |
5.6 | 5.6 |
|
Sep 2023 |
5.7 | 5.6 |
|
Oct 2023 |
5.6 | 5.2 |
|
Nov 2023 |
5.6 | 5.2 |
|
Dec 2023 |
5.6 | 5.2 |
|
Jan 2024 |
5.2 | 5.1 |
|
Feb 2024 |
5.2 | 5.1 |
|
Mar 2024 |
5.0 | 4.9 |
|
Apr 2024 |
5.4 | 4.6 |
|
May 2024 |
5.4 | 4.8 |
|
Jun 2024 |
5.2 | 4.5 |
|
Jul 2024 |
5.0 | 4.5 |
|
Aug 2024 |
5.2 | 4.6 |
|
Sep 2024 |
5.4 | 4.3 |
|
Oct 2024 |
4.5 | 4.6 |
|
Nov 2024 |
5.5 | 4.8 |
|
Dec 2024 |
5.0 | 4.5 |
|
Jan 2025 |
5.2 | 4.7 |
|
Feb 2025 |
5.2 | 4.5 |
|
Mar 2025 |
4.4 | 4.3 |
|
Apr 2025 |
5.1 | 4.4 |
|
May 2025 |
5.2 | 4.6 |
|
Jun 2025 |
5.0 | 4.4 |
|
Jul 2025 |
4.8 | 4.3 |
|
Aug 2025 |
4.5 | 4.3 |
The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening in Rhode Island was 1.1 in August. Nationwide, 34 states and the District of Columbia had ratios in August that were lower than the national ratio of 1.0 unemployed persons per job opening; 13 states had ratios that were higher than the national ratio, and 3 states had ratios equal to the national measure. (See map 1.)
Map 1. Number of unemployed persons per job opening by state, August 2025, seasonally adjusted
(U.S. ratio = 1.0)
In August, Rhode Island had 21,000 hires and 22,000 separations, compared to 19,000 hires and 20,000 separations in July. (See chart 2.) Over the 12 months ending in August, hires have averaged 20,000 per month and separations have averaged 22,000 per month. These averages include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.
View Chart Data
Chart 2. Hires and total separations in Rhode Island, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
| Month | Hires | Total separations |
|
Aug 2021 |
22 | 21 |
|
Sep 2021 |
24 | 19 |
|
Oct 2021 |
25 | 20 |
|
Nov 2021 |
23 | 20 |
|
Dec 2021 |
23 | 18 |
|
Jan 2022 |
22 | 22 |
|
Feb 2022 |
25 | 21 |
|
Mar 2022 |
23 | 20 |
|
Apr 2022 |
22 | 19 |
|
May 2022 |
21 | 20 |
|
Jun 2022 |
24 | 20 |
|
Jul 2022 |
20 | 20 |
|
Aug 2022 |
22 | 21 |
|
Sep 2022 |
20 | 20 |
|
Oct 2022 |
20 | 21 |
|
Nov 2022 |
19 | 16 |
|
Dec 2022 |
21 | 19 |
|
Jan 2023 |
20 | 20 |
|
Feb 2023 |
23 | 19 |
|
Mar 2023 |
23 | 19 |
|
Apr 2023 |
24 | 23 |
|
May 2023 |
21 | 19 |
|
Jun 2023 |
21 | 17 |
|
Jul 2023 |
17 | 17 |
|
Aug 2023 |
21 | 16 |
|
Sep 2023 |
22 | 17 |
|
Oct 2023 |
20 | 25 |
|
Nov 2023 |
20 | 19 |
|
Dec 2023 |
20 | 20 |
|
Jan 2024 |
19 | 19 |
|
Feb 2024 |
20 | 19 |
|
Mar 2024 |
19 | 19 |
|
Apr 2024 |
19 | 19 |
|
May 2024 |
24 | 20 |
|
Jun 2024 |
19 | 18 |
|
Jul 2024 |
21 | 19 |
|
Aug 2024 |
21 | 21 |
|
Sep 2024 |
20 | 23 |
|
Oct 2024 |
20 | 17 |
|
Nov 2024 |
23 | 15 |
|
Dec 2024 |
18 | 26 |
|
Jan 2025 |
20 | 33 |
|
Feb 2025 |
19 | 20 |
|
Mar 2025 |
19 | 19 |
|
Apr 2025 |
20 | 22 |
|
May 2025 |
25 | 19 |
|
Jun 2025 |
20 | 23 |
|
Jul 2025 |
19 | 20 |
|
Aug 2025 |
21 | 22 |
Among the August separations in Rhode Island, 10,000 were quits and 10,000 were layoffs and discharges, compared to 10,000 quits and 8,000 layoffs and discharges in July. (See chart 3.) Over the last 12 months, quits averaged 11,000 per month, ranging from 7,000 to 15,000. Layoffs and discharges have averaged 9,000 per month, ranging from 5,000 to 19,000.
View Chart Data
Chart 3. Quits and layoffs and discharges in Rhode Island, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
| Month | Quits | Layoffs & discharges |
|
Aug 2021 |
14 | 6 |
|
Sep 2021 |
13 | 5 |
|
Oct 2021 |
14 | 5 |
|
Nov 2021 |
14 | 5 |
|
Dec 2021 |
14 | 4 |
|
Jan 2022 |
14 | 5 |
|
Feb 2022 |
14 | 6 |
|
Mar 2022 |
14 | 5 |
|
Apr 2022 |
12 | 6 |
|
May 2022 |
13 | 6 |
|
Jun 2022 |
13 | 6 |
|
Jul 2022 |
13 | 6 |
|
Aug 2022 |
14 | 6 |
|
Sep 2022 |
13 | 5 |
|
Oct 2022 |
12 | 9 |
|
Nov 2022 |
11 | 4 |
|
Dec 2022 |
12 | 6 |
|
Jan 2023 |
11 | 8 |
|
Feb 2023 |
12 | 7 |
|
Mar 2023 |
11 | 7 |
|
Apr 2023 |
15 | 7 |
|
May 2023 |
11 | 6 |
|
Jun 2023 |
10 | 6 |
|
Jul 2023 |
10 | 6 |
|
Aug 2023 |
8 | 6 |
|
Sep 2023 |
11 | 5 |
|
Oct 2023 |
12 | 11 |
|
Nov 2023 |
11 | 6 |
|
Dec 2023 |
11 | 7 |
|
Jan 2024 |
11 | 7 |
|
Feb 2024 |
11 | 7 |
|
Mar 2024 |
11 | 7 |
|
Apr 2024 |
11 | 7 |
|
May 2024 |
11 | 7 |
|
Jun 2024 |
11 | 6 |
|
Jul 2024 |
9 | 9 |
|
Aug 2024 |
13 | 7 |
|
Sep 2024 |
15 | 7 |
|
Oct 2024 |
10 | 5 |
|
Nov 2024 |
7 | 6 |
|
Dec 2024 |
10 | 15 |
|
Jan 2025 |
12 | 19 |
|
Feb 2025 |
11 | 8 |
|
Mar 2025 |
11 | 6 |
|
Apr 2025 |
11 | 10 |
|
May 2025 |
11 | 8 |
|
Jun 2025 |
12 | 9 |
|
Jul 2025 |
10 | 8 |
|
Aug 2025 |
10 | 10 |
Upcoming Change to the JOLTS State Estimates
The national State Job Openings and Labor Turnover news release will move from a monthly news release to an annual news release. The last monthly news release will occur with the December 2025 data published in February 2026. The first annual news release will be in July 2026. Going forward, monthly estimates for the prior calendar year will be published each year along with the annual news release. The annual news release will incorporate benchmark revisions to JOLTS national estimates, updated Current Employment Statistics (CES) employment estimates, and updated Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data.
Federal Government Shutdown
The release of data for the August 2025 State Job Openings and Labor Turnover was delayed by more than 5 weeks because of the lapse in federal appropriations. While BLS completed data collection prior to the lapse, BLS could not complete data processing and review until appropriations resumed.
Subsequent State JOLTS data releases will also be delayed. Revised release dates will be posted as they become available.
Technical Note
This news release presents statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The JOLTS program provides information on labor demand and turnover. The state estimates produced by JOLTS are model-based incorporating JOLTS sample, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates. For more information see the JOLTS State Estimates Methodology.
Job Openings. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the reference month. A job is open only if it meets all three of these conditions:
- A specific position exists and there is work available for that position.
- The job could start within 30 days.
- The employer is actively recruiting workers from outside the establishment to fill the position.
The number of unemployed persons per job opening is a ratio of the level of unemployed persons and the level of job openings. The number of unemployed persons at the national level is an estimate from the Current Population Survey (CPS), while state-level unemployment estimates are modeled by the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program. A ratio of 1.0 means there is a job available for every unemployed person. Lower ratios signal tighter labor markets, where firms have more job openings than there are unemployed persons available to work. Higher ratios indicate there are more unemployed persons competing for each job opening.
Hires. Hires include all additions to the payroll during the entire reference month.
Separations. Separations include all separations from the payroll during the entire reference month and is reported by type of separation: quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations.
- Quits include employees who left voluntarily, except for retirements or transfers to other locations.
- Layoffs and discharges include involuntary separations initiated by the employer.
- Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, separations due to employee disability, and deaths.
Levels and rates of other separations represent a small portion of total separations and are not published with the release of state estimates.
Complete definitions, including exclusions, and additional information about the State JOLTS data presented in this release are available in the State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Technical Note.
Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.
Table 1. Job openings and labor turnover for Rhode Island, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)| Estimate | August 2024 | May 2025 | June 2025 | July 2025 | August 2025(p) | Change from July 2025 to August 2025(p) |
|
Openings |
28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 24 | -2 |
|
Hires |
21 | 25 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 2 |
|
Total separations |
21 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 2 |
|
Quits |
13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
|
Layoffs & discharges |
7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 2 |
|
Footnotes: |
||||||
| Estimate | August 2024 | May 2025 | June 2025 | July 2025 | August 2025(p) | Change from July 2025 to August 2025(p) |
|
Openings(1) |
5.2 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.5 | -0.3 |
|
Hires(2) |
4.1 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 0.4 |
|
Total separations(3) |
4.1 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 0.4 |
|
Quits(3) |
2.5 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
|
Layoffs & discharges(3) |
1.4 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.3 |
|
Footnotes: |
||||||
| Estimate | August 2024 | May 2025 | June 2025 | July 2025 | August 2025(p) | Change from July 2025 to August 2025(p) |
|
Openings(1) |
4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 0.0 |
|
Hires(2) |
3.3 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.2 | -0.1 |
|
Total separations(3) |
3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.2 | -0.1 |
|
Quits(3) |
2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | -0.1 |
|
Layoffs & discharges(3) |
1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
|
Footnotes: |
||||||
BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published this content on December 05, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 05, 2025 at 16:14 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]