Rhode Island employment decreased 0.6 percent over the year to 486,900 in March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Among the state’s two largest counties, employment declined 1.1 percent in Providence County and 0.7 percent in Kent County from March 2025 to March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Regional Commissioner Mark J. Maggi noted that the rate of employment growth in Providence ranked 300^th and in Kent ranked 252^nd among the 371 largest U.S. counties with published data.

Employment was 285,300 in Providence and 74,900 in Kent in March 2026. Together these two large counties accounted for 74.0 percent of total employment in Rhode Island. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 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 2025.)

The average weekly wage in Providence increased 4.0 percent over the year (ranked 132^nd nationally) to $1,513 (125^th). The average wage in Kent increased 2.7 percent (243^rd) to $1,319 (222^nd). The national average was $1,654, up 3.9 percent over the year.

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 4.2 percent over the year to $1,487. Rhode Island ranked 22^nd in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 14^th in wage growth.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the three smaller counties in Rhode Island, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all three smaller counties were below the national average: Newport ($1,529), Washington ($1,303), and Bristol ($1,242).

Among all 5 Rhode Island counties, 1 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,300, 2 registered wages from $1,300 to $1,499, and 2 had average weekly wages of $1,500 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)