Employment rose in Rhode Island’s two largest counties, Providence and Kent, from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Mark J. Maggi noted that Providence County had the larger over-the-year increase in employment at 1.3 percent. (See table 1.)

Employment in Providence was 288,600 in March 2025; Kent reported 75,100 employed. Together, the two largest counties accounted for 74.4 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

The two large Rhode Island counties reported average weekly wage gains over the year. Providence had the largest gain (+3.3 percent), followed by Kent County (+3.2 percent).

Weekly wages in the two large counties in Rhode Island were below the national average of $1,589. Average weekly wages were $1,456 in Providence and $1,284 in Kent.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the three small counties in Rhode Island, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all three smaller counties were below the national average: Newport ($1,440), Washington ($1,267), and Bristol ($1,180).

When all five counties in Rhode Island are considered, one reported an average weekly wage of less than $1,200, two registered wages from $1,200 to $1,299, and two had average weekly wages of $1,300 or higher.  (See map 1 and table 2.)