EconomyUnemployment Rate Rises to 4.2% in September 2026News Paper Joint
Unemployment Rate by State
Data updated Oct 28, 2026 · 6:02 AM EDT
Rhode Island Unemployment Rate
Seasonally adjusted · September 2026 · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
▼ 0.1 pts vs prior month
US Rate
4.2%
Below national
A Year Ago
4.3%
▼ 0.7 pts since
National Rank
#23
of 51 (1 = lowest)
Snapshot
Rhode Island's unemployment rate was 3.6% in September 2026, down from 3.7% the month before, compared with 4.2% nationally. That ranks Rhode Island 23 out of 51 states (including DC), where 1 is the lowest rate.
Two-Year Trend
Rhode Island U.S.Lowest & Highest Unemployment
| State | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest #1 | South Dakota | 2.0% |
| Lowest #2 | North Dakota | 2.2% |
| Lowest #3 | New Hampshire | 2.6% |
| Lowest #4 | Vermont | 2.6% |
| Lowest #5 | Hawaii | 2.8% |
| Highest #1 | District of Columbia | 5.6% |
| Highest #2 | Connecticut | 5.1% |
| Highest #3 | California | 5.1% |
| Highest #4 | Oregon | 5.0% |
| Highest #5 | Michigan | 5.0% |
Monthly History
| Month | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.6% | 4.2% |
| August 2026 | 3.7% | 4.1% |
| July 2026 | 3.9% | 4.1% |
| June 2026 | 4.1% | 4.2% |
| May 2026 | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| April 2026 | 4.5% | 4.3% |
| March 2026 | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| February 2026 | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| January 2026 | 4.5% | 4.3% |
| December 2025 | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| November 2025 | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| September 2025 | 4.3% | 4.4% |
Latest Unemployment News
All news →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the unemployment rate in Rhode Island?
3.6% (seasonally adjusted) for September 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When is new state unemployment data released?
BLS publishes state unemployment rates monthly, usually about two weeks after the national jobs report. This page checks for new numbers every day.
Data source & method: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). Data updated Oct 28, 2026 · 6:02 AM EDT. This page refreshes automatically; figures are shown exactly as published by the source. How we source data.