Providence County, RI jobs, unemployment and layoffs
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Show me jobs near meProvidence County economy
3.3%
unemployment, Sep 2026
4.2% the month before
350,743
in the labor force
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
658,977
people in Providence County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$78,204
median household income
Source: Census ACS
41%
of workers in white-collar occupations
Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS
Where Providence County ranks
Where Providence County placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #4Best county job markets for job seekers in New England60 / 100 · of 12
- #6Fastest-growing job markets in New England+3.1% · of 24
- #6Best counties for laid-off professionals in New England54 / 100 · of 12
- #6Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in New England23% · of 31
- #8Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in New England2 per 100 · of 12
- #10Counties where unemployment fell the most in New England−0.9 points · of 24
Providence County outlook: Steady
Built from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census figures. It describes the area, not any one employer in it.
- Private-sector jobs up 3.1% from 2022 to 2025
- Population up 2.8% from 2020 to 2025
- Unemployment 3.3%, down 0.9 points from a year ago
- Sectors adding the most jobs: health care (+5,389 jobs), transportation & warehousing (+3,780 jobs)
- Sectors losing the most jobs: manufacturing (−2,424 jobs), admin & staffing (−1,718 jobs)
Local job-market news
Recent headlines about layoffs, AI and jobs in Providence County. Each link goes to the publisher.
- I-95 will close overnight in Cranston this weekend. Here's how to avoid it.The Draft Wire · Oct 14, 2026
Learn and get funded in Providence County
- Which AI skills each kind of job asks for, with the pay premium.
- Your local workforce board and American Job Centers: training vouchers and re-employment help.
- Grants and funding for job seekers, ranked for your state and situation.
- Unemployment benefits by state, if you are between jobs.
Providence County layoffs
3
Layoff notices, last 12 months
793
workers named
A floor: states may leave out counts
3
employers
| Notice date | Employer | City or county | Workers | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HasbroTakes effect Dec 24, 2026 | Pawtucket | 587 | — | State record | |
| Allied Group, LLC | Cumberland | 154 | — | State record | |
| Northeast Transportation Services LLCTakes effect May 9, 2026 | Pawtucket | 52 | — | State record |
Employers hiring most in Providence County
Employers with the most open professional roles in this county’s cities. The county is taken from each job’s city, so roles with no city are not counted.
- Citizens Financial Group Inc/Ri25 open roles
- Gilbane13 open roles
- United Natural Foods (UNFI)13 open roles
- Women and Infants Hospital10 open roles
- Amazon7 open roles
- Apex Companies6 open roles
- Brown University6 open roles
- State of Rhode Island6 open roles
- Brown University Health5 open roles
- PPL5 open roles
Largest employers headquartered in Providence County
- 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.
Colleges in Providence County
| College | City | Type | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | Providence | Private non-profit 4-year | 10,000–19,999 |
| Rhode Island College | Providence | Public 4-year | 5,000–9,999 |
| Bryant University | Smithfield | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Online | Providence | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Providence College | Providence | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Providence | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| College Unbound | Providence | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
Conferences in Providence County
Industry conferences and trade shows held in Providence County. 4 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…
- 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.
- Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting
Usually June (next dates not announced) · Providence, RI
Paid ticket, price not listed
Workforce development and job centers
The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving Providence County. They offer free help with job search, training and filing for benefits.
Laid off in Rhode Island? How to file for unemployment in Rhode Island (steps, weekly amount and the appeal deadline).
- Providence/Cranston Workforce Development Board
Cities: Cranston, Providence
- Rhode Island Governor's Workforce Board
Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington
Providence American Job Center
Providence · Comprehensive · 401-680-5101
M - Th 8:00am – 3:30pm; F - 10:00am-3:30pm
Woonsocket American Job Center
Woonsocket · Affiliate · 401-235-1201
M - Th 8:00am – 3:30pm; F - 10:00am-3:30pm
Cities in Providence County
Other Rhode Island counties
Laid off or looking for work in Providence County?
See what to do first and the jobs open near you.
See your options after a layoffSources: Census Bureau and BLS (county unemployment is not seasonally adjusted); layoff notices from Rhode Island’s published record; job counts from our live job board; IPEDS for colleges; CareerOneStop for workforce boards and job centers. Rhode Island unemployment benefits and severance rules.
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