Rhode Island jobs and job market: layoffs, colleges and workforce help
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Get your free assessmentRhode Island economy
3.7%
unemployment, Aug 2026
4.3% the month before
577,129
in the labor force
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
1,095,371
people in Rhode Island
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$86,372
median household income
Source: Census ACS
44%
of workers in white-collar occupations
Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS
Rhode Island layoffs
6
WARN layoff notices, last 12 months
10,723
workers named
A floor: states may leave out counts
6
employers
| Notice date | Employer | City or county | Workers | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HasbroTakes effect Dec 24, 2026 | Pawtucket | 587 | — | State record | |
| ConduentTakes effect Aug 28, 2026 | Conduent | 1 | — | State record | |
| Ideal US Talent Systems Worker OpCo LLCTakes effect Jul 1, 2026 | — | 9,891 | — | State record | |
| Allied Group, LLC | Cumberland | 154 | — | State record | |
| Northeast Transportation Services LLCTakes effect May 9, 2026 | Pawtucket | 52 | — | State record | |
| EaglePicherTakes effect Mar 15, 2026 | East Greenwich | 38 | — | State record |
Employers hiring most in Rhode Island
Employers with the most open professional roles on our job board right now.
- Seacorp33 open roles
- Anduril Industries22 open roles
- CVS HEALTH22 open roles
- Arcfield17 open roles
- Citizens Financial Group Inc/Ri16 open roles
- RTX16 open roles
- Women and Infants Hospital16 open roles
- General Dynamics Electric Boat14 open roles
- Anduril13 open roles
- Gilbane12 open roles
- United Natural Foods (UNFI)10 open roles
- Raytheon9 open roles
Largest employers headquartered in Rhode Island
- Brown University5,001–20,000 employees
Employee counts with a year are published figures (Wikidata). Other sizes are estimates from our company directory, not payroll counts.
Higher education in Rhode Island
13
public and private nonprofit colleges
Source: IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education
about 77,500
students enrolled
Estimated from size bands
Largest colleges in Rhode Island
| College | City | Type | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | Providence | Private nonprofit 4-year | 10,000–19,999 |
| University of Rhode Island | Kingston | Public 4-year | 10,000–19,999 |
| Rhode Island College | Providence | Public 4-year | 5,000–9,999 |
| Bryant University | Smithfield | Private nonprofit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Online | Providence | Private nonprofit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence | Private nonprofit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| New England Institute of Technology | East Greenwich | Private nonprofit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Providence College | Providence | Private nonprofit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Providence | Private nonprofit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Roger Williams University | Bristol | Private nonprofit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Salve Regina University | Newport | Private nonprofit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| College Unbound | Providence | Private nonprofit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
Workforce development and job centers
The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving Rhode Island. They offer free help with job search, training and filing for benefits.
- Providence/Cranston Workforce Development Board
Cities: Cranston, Providence
- Rhode Island Governor's Workforce Board
Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington
3 American Job Centers in Rhode Island
Job fairs and business events in Rhode Island
Hiring events, career workshops, small-business counseling and startup events from chambers, job centers, workforce boards, colleges and economic-development groups in Rhode Island.
- FundingNov 2, 2026 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- Starting a businessNov 10, 2026 · Free
Deploying Your Business, Resources for Veteran Entrepreneurs
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island Small Business Development Center
- FundingNov 12, 2026 · Providence, RI
Prov Business Loan Fund meeting
With Providence American Job Center · Workforce board: Providence/Cranston Workforce Development Board
- FundingDec 7, 2026 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingJan 4, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingFeb 8, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingMar 15, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingApr 5, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingMay 10, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingJun 7, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingJul 6, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingAug 9, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
- FundingSep 13, 2027 · Online · Free
SBA 101: An Introduction to SBA Programs & Services
SBDC / SBA partner: Rhode Island District Office
Conferences in Rhode Island
Industry conferences and trade shows held in Rhode Island, the ones worth a trip for hiring managers and job seekers. 5 with dates announced.
- DGIQ + AIGov (Data Governance & Information Quality)
Nov 16 to Nov 19, 2026 · Providence, RI
Ticket $2,395 to $3,295. Conference-only 2 days $2,395; with Monday tutorial day $3,295; single tutorial days $1,195. Groups of…
- International Partnering Forum (IPF)
Apr 11 to Apr 14, 2027 · Newport, RI
Ticket $995 to $1,595. Member $995 (renewal special to Feb 1), early bird $1,195 member / $1,395 non-member to Mar 17; standard…
- FMI Financial Executive and Internal Audit Conference
May 16 to May 18, 2027 · Providence, RI
Paid ticket. Pricing not seen.
- SSP Annual Meeting
Jun 2 to Jun 4, 2027 · Providence, RI
Paid ticket. Fees not read; 700-1,000 attendees. 50th meeting is May 31-June 2, 2028 in Baltimore.
Open call for speakers · deadline Nov 9, 2026
- AEE East Energy Conference & Expo
Jun 9 to Jun 10, 2027 · Providence, RI
Paid ticket. Registration fees not stated on the page; member discounts may apply.
- Opal Family Office & Private Wealth Management Forum
Usually July (next dates not announced) · Newport, RI
Paid ticket. Price not read.
- Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting
Usually June (next dates not announced) · Providence, RI
Paid ticket, price not listed
Rhode Island counties
Each county page has its own unemployment, layoffs, job openings, employers, colleges and job centers.
- Providence County4.2% unemployed
- Kent County3.3% unemployed
- Washington County2.9% unemployed
- Newport County2.9% unemployed
- Bristol County2.9% unemployed
Rhode Island cities
Cities with open jobs, layoff notices, a job center or a college.
- Providence205 jobs
- Middletown65 jobs
- Newport49 jobs
- Warwick48 jobs
- Johnston36 jobs
- Woonsocket28 jobs
- Pawtucket17 jobs
- Cranston25 jobs
- Smithfield15 jobs
- Portsmouth14 jobs
- Lincoln14 jobs
- Cumberland8 jobs
- Kingston12 jobs
- Bristol11 jobs
- Warren6 jobs
- Westerly5 jobs
- East Greenwich
- Coventry3 jobs
- West Warwick
Laid off or looking for work in Rhode Island?
See what to do first, what Rhode Island unemployment benefits pay, and the jobs open near you.
See your options after a layoffSources: Census Bureau and BLS for population, income and unemployment; WARN notices from Rhode Island’s published record; job counts from our live job board, taken from employers’ own career sites; IPEDS for colleges; CareerOneStop for workforce boards and job centers. Rhode Island unemployment benefits.