From September 2025 to December 2025, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Rhode Island were 28,673, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 26,739, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Mark J. Maggi noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 1,934 jobs in the private sector during the fourth quarter of 2025. (See table 1.) During the previous quarter, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains by 2,991. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all private businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private-sector establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.)

Gross job gains

In the fourth quarter of 2025, gross job gains represented 6.6 percent of private-sector employment in Rhode Island; nationally, gross job gains accounted for 5.9 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 2.) Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment due to expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. In Rhode Island, gross job gains at expanding establishments totaled 21,720 in the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of 1,996 jobs compared to the previous quarter. Opening establishments accounted for 6,953 jobs gained in the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of 426 jobs from the previous quarter.

Gross job losses

In the fourth quarter of 2025, gross job losses represented 6.2 percent of private-sector employment in Rhode Island; nationally, gross job losses accounted for 5.5 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 3.) Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. In Rhode Island, contracting establishments lost 20,348 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2025, a decrease of 2,316 jobs from the prior quarter. Closing establishments lost 6,391 jobs, a decrease of 187 jobs from the previous quarter.

Industries

Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 6 of the 8 published industry sectors in Rhode Island in the fourth quarter of 2025. Leisure and hospitality had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase, with a gain of 618 jobs. This was the result of 7,195 gross job gains and 6,577 gross job losses. The financial activities industry had a net gain of 560 jobs. In contrast, Rhode Island’s retail trade industry had a net loss of 144 jobs, the result of 2,557 gross job losses and 2,413 gross job gains.

For more information

The BED data series include gross job gains and gross job losses by industry subsector, for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by employer size class. BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. Additional information is available online at the at the Business Employment Dynamics homepage and the Business Employment Dynamics Summary.

The Business Employment Dynamics for First Quarter 2026 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records.

More information on formal definitions of the data used in this release, along with coverage, concepts, and methodology, can be found in the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Private-sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Rhode Island, seasonally adjusted

Category	Gross job gains and losses (3 months ended)					Gross job gains and losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
	Dec. 2024	Mar. 2025	June 2025	Sept. 2025	Dec. 2025	Dec. 2024	Mar. 2025	June 2025	Sept. 2025	Dec. 2025
Total private (1)
Gross job gains	31,924	29,048	27,675	26,251	28,673	7.3	6.6	6.3	6.0	6.6
At expanding establishments	21,913	22,760	21,999	19,724	21,720	5.0	5.2	5.0	4.5	5.0
At opening establishments	10,011	6,288	5,676	6,527	6,953	2.3	1.4	1.3	1.5	1.6
Gross job losses	27,324	26,008	29,304	29,242	26,739	6.3	5.9	6.7	6.7	6.2
At contracting establishments	20,964	20,373	22,704	22,664	20,348	4.8	4.6	5.2	5.2	4.7
At closing establishments	6,360	5,635	6,600	6,578	6,391	1.5	1.3	1.5	1.5	1.5
Net employment change (2)	4,600	3,040	-1,629	-2,991	1,934	1.0	0.7	-0.4	-0.7	0.4
Construction
Gross job gains	2,531	2,947	1,978	2,163	2,351	11.5	12.8	8.6	9.9	10.6
At expanding establishments	1,810	2,115	1,473	1,402	1,665	8.2	9.2	6.4	6.4	7.5
At opening establishments	721	832	505	761	686	3.3	3.6	2.2	3.5	3.1
Gross job losses	2,477	1,916	2,700	2,277	2,290	11.2	8.3	11.7	10.3	10.3
At contracting establishments	1,681	1,407	1,848	1,583	1,598	7.6	6.1	8.0	7.2	7.2
At closing establishments	796	509	852	694	692	3.6	2.2	3.7	3.1	3.1
Net employment change (2)	54	1,031	-722	-114	61	0.3	4.5	-3.1	-0.4	0.3
Wholesale trade
Gross job gains	818	749	766	901	893	4.9	4.6	4.7	5.5	5.5
At expanding establishments	581	511	564	609	636	3.5	3.1	3.5	3.7	3.9
At opening establishments	237	238	202	292	257	1.4	1.5	1.2	1.8	1.6
Gross job losses	814	776	806	786	907	4.9	4.8	4.9	4.8	5.5
At contracting establishments	532	538	554	608	608	3.2	3.3	3.4	3.7	3.7
At closing establishments	282	238	252	178	299	1.7	1.5	1.5	1.1	1.8
Net employment change (2)	4	-27	-40	115	-14	0.0	-0.2	-0.2	0.7	0.0
Retail trade
Gross job gains	2,623	2,582	2,315	2,146	2,413	5.5	5.4	4.9	4.7	5.2
At expanding establishments	2,222	2,186	1,977	1,788	2,087	4.7	4.6	4.2	3.9	4.5
At opening establishments	401	396	338	358	326	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.8	0.7
Gross job losses	2,645	2,432	2,889	2,836	2,557	5.6	5.2	6.1	6.1	5.6
At contracting establishments	2,163	2,067	2,350	2,226	2,185	4.6	4.4	5.0	4.8	4.8
At closing establishments	482	365	539	610	372	1.0	0.8	1.1	1.3	0.8
Net employment change (2)	-22	150	-574	-690	-144	-0.1	0.2	-1.2	-1.4	-0.4
Financial activities
Gross job gains	1,311	1,242	1,457	1,508	1,931	4.2	3.9	4.6	4.8	6.0
At expanding establishments	976	1,048	1,145	1,035	1,549	3.1	3.3	3.6	3.3	4.8
At opening establishments	335	194	312	473	382	1.1	0.6	1.0	1.5	1.2
Gross job losses	1,333	1,314	1,600	1,469	1,371	4.2	4.1	5.1	4.6	4.3
At contracting establishments	1,083	1,025	1,232	1,169	947	3.4	3.2	3.9	3.7	3.0
At closing establishments	250	289	368	300	424	0.8	0.9	1.2	0.9	1.3
Net employment change (2)	-22	-72	-143	39	560	0.0	-0.2	-0.5	0.2	1.7
Professional and business services
Gross job gains	4,914	5,023	5,699	4,460	5,329	7.1	7.3	8.3	6.5	7.9
At expanding establishments	3,308	3,496	4,121	2,824	3,772	4.8	5.1	6.0	4.1	5.6
At opening establishments	1,606	1,527	1,578	1,636	1,557	2.3	2.2	2.3	2.4	2.3
Gross job losses	5,964	4,979	5,271	5,664	5,189	8.6	7.3	7.7	8.2	7.7
At contracting establishments	4,037	3,414	3,642	3,858	3,451	5.8	5.0	5.3	5.6	5.1
At closing establishments	1,927	1,565	1,629	1,806	1,738	2.8	2.3	2.4	2.6	2.6
Net employment change (2)	-1,050	44	428	-1,204	140	-1.5	0.0	0.6	-1.7	0.2
Education and health services
Gross job gains	4,414	4,355	3,914	5,040	4,047	4.0	4.0	3.6	4.6	3.7
At expanding establishments	3,626	3,717	3,247	4,530	3,311	3.3	3.4	3.0	4.1	3.0
At opening establishments	788	638	667	510	736	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.7
Gross job losses	4,150	3,799	4,919	4,193	3,717	3.8	3.4	4.5	3.8	3.3
At contracting establishments	3,489	3,117	4,365	3,279	3,129	3.2	2.8	4.0	3.0	2.8
At closing establishments	661	682	554	914	588	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.8	0.5
Net employment change (2)	264	556	-1,005	847	330	0.2	0.6	-0.9	0.8	0.4
Leisure and hospitality
Gross job gains	7,970	6,802	6,583	6,489	7,195	13.1	11.0	10.7	10.6	11.8
At expanding establishments	6,120	5,190	5,461	4,983	5,132	10.1	8.4	8.9	8.1	8.4
At opening establishments	1,850	1,612	1,122	1,506	2,063	3.0	2.6	1.8	2.5	3.4
Gross job losses	6,106	6,808	6,579	7,149	6,577	10.0	11.0	10.7	11.7	10.7
At contracting establishments	4,993	5,777	5,271	5,818	5,346	8.2	9.3	8.6	9.5	8.7
At closing establishments	1,113	1,031	1,308	1,331	1,231	1.8	1.7	2.1	2.2	2.0
Net employment change (2)	1,864	-6	4	-660	618	3.1	0.0	0.0	-1.1	1.1
Other services (3)
Gross job gains	1,418	1,328	1,549	1,041	1,337	8.2	7.8	9.0	6.0	7.9
At expanding establishments	1,074	1,041	1,198	727	928	6.2	6.1	7.0	4.2	5.5
At opening establishments	344	287	351	314	409	2.0	1.7	2.0	1.8	2.4
Gross job losses	1,296	1,402	1,347	1,456	1,314	7.4	8.2	7.9	8.5	7.8
At contracting establishments	997	1,026	952	1,129	1,034	5.7	6.0	5.6	6.6	6.1
At closing establishments	299	376	395	327	280	1.7	2.2	2.3	1.9	1.7
Net employment change (2)	122	-74	202	-415	23	0.8	-0.4	1.1	-2.5	0.1
Footnotes: (1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately. (2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. (3) Except public administration.

Table 2. Private-sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted

Category	Gross job gains as a percent of employment (3 months ended)					Gross job losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
	Dec. 2024	Mar. 2025	June 2025	Sept. 2025	Dec. 2025	Dec. 2024	Mar. 2025	June 2025	Sept. 2025	Dec. 2025
United States(1)	5.9	5.6	5.7	5.6	5.9	5.7	5.4	6.0	5.7	5.5
Alabama	5.8	5.3	5.5	5.4	6.1	5.3	5.6	5.6	5.5	5.4
Alaska	10.3	10.0	9.9	7.5	11.8	9.5	8.1	10.3	10.0	9.3
Arizona	6.1	5.8	5.3	5.8	5.7	5.9	5.3	6.3	5.5	5.4
Arkansas	5.8	5.1	5.1	5.3	6.0	4.8	5.1	5.5	5.3	5.0
California	6.7	6.0	6.6	6.2	6.8	6.4	6.2	6.7	6.0	6.1
Colorado	6.2	6.2	6.4	6.5	6.2	6.5	6.8	7.1	6.5	6.4
Connecticut	5.5	5.6	5.8	5.3	5.5	5.5	5.3	5.8	5.9	5.5
Delaware	6.1	5.9	5.9	5.3	5.5	6.3	5.3	6.1	6.1	5.5
District of Columbia	5.0	4.8	5.7	4.6	5.2	5.5	5.8	5.9	5.9	5.0
Florida	6.0	5.8	5.7	5.9	5.9	6.2	5.5	5.8	6.0	5.7
Georgia	6.0	5.5	5.5	5.7	5.9	5.4	5.7	5.6	5.8	5.5
Hawaii	5.3	4.9	4.8	5.1	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.2	4.8	4.7
Idaho	8.2	7.3	7.7	6.7	8.1	6.8	7.3	7.2	7.6	6.3
Illinois	5.1	5.0	5.2	4.7	5.3	5.1	5.0	5.2	5.0	5.3
Indiana	5.5	5.4	5.0	5.1	5.5	5.1	5.2	5.6	5.1	5.1
Iowa	5.6	5.8	5.6	4.8	6.3	5.6	5.5	5.8	5.9	5.4
Kansas	5.9	5.5	5.4	5.8	5.7	5.2	5.4	6.3	5.8	5.3
Kentucky	5.3	5.2	5.0	5.3	5.2	5.5	4.8	5.4	5.6	5.0
Louisiana	6.2	5.6	5.5	5.9	6.0	5.5	5.6	6.3	6.0	5.9
Maine	7.0	7.4	7.2	6.2	6.8	7.1	6.3	7.4	7.0	7.0
Maryland	6.0	5.9	5.7	5.7	6.0	5.9	5.7	6.2	6.5	5.6
Massachusetts	5.3	5.0	5.5	5.3	5.4	5.5	5.1	5.8	5.9	5.6
Michigan	5.4	5.2	5.8	4.9	5.6	5.9	5.3	5.5	5.9	5.3
Minnesota	5.5	5.1	5.8	5.3	5.6	5.1	5.5	5.5	5.6	5.5
Mississippi	6.3	5.7	6.3	6.4	6.4	6.2	6.1	6.5	6.1	5.8
Missouri	5.7	5.4	5.5	5.6	6.1	5.3	5.2	6.1	5.9	5.5
Montana	8.4	8.0	7.7	7.0	8.4	7.8	7.5	8.3	7.9	7.4
Nebraska	5.6	5.2	5.4	5.5	5.7	5.5	5.3	5.5	5.8	5.2
Nevada	6.1	5.4	6.2	6.9	6.2	5.6	5.9	6.3	5.2	5.4
New Hampshire	6.3	6.5	6.3	5.6	6.2	5.9	6.1	6.7	6.8	5.7
New Jersey	6.0	5.6	5.8	5.3	5.7	5.5	5.4	5.5	5.8	5.3
New Mexico	6.1	5.9	5.9	5.8	6.1	5.9	5.8	6.0	6.2	6.0
New York	5.7	6.6	5.9	5.9	5.6	5.5	5.0	7.0	5.8	5.6
North Carolina	6.1	5.4	5.6	5.4	6.0	5.5	5.5	5.4	5.7	5.1
North Dakota	6.5	6.7	6.4	6.2	6.9	6.6	6.5	6.7	6.6	6.4
Ohio	5.4	5.2	5.3	5.1	5.3	5.1	4.9	5.4	5.3	5.0
Oklahoma	6.0	5.5	5.5	6.0	6.2	5.5	5.3	6.2	6.4	5.1
Oregon	6.2	5.8	6.4	5.7	6.0	6.6	6.2	6.5	6.7	6.0
Pennsylvania	5.2	5.0	4.9	5.0	5.1	4.8	4.7	5.2	5.2	4.7
Rhode Island	7.3	6.6	6.3	6.0	6.6	6.3	5.9	6.7	6.7	6.2
South Carolina	6.4	6.1	5.8	6.3	6.7	5.9	5.5	6.6	6.5	5.5
South Dakota	6.7	6.2	6.0	5.9	6.0	5.9	6.5	6.1	6.0	5.6
Tennessee	5.5	5.4	5.1	5.7	6.2	6.2	5.1	5.9	5.2	5.2
Texas	5.8	5.1	5.2	5.3	5.6	5.2	5.1	5.4	5.3	4.9
Utah	6.8	6.6	6.6	6.7	6.5	6.3	6.0	6.6	6.4	6.1
Vermont	6.7	6.9	6.9	6.6	6.9	6.7	6.8	7.5	7.8	7.0
Virginia	5.8	5.6	5.8	5.9	5.8	5.5	5.1	5.8	6.1	5.1
Washington	5.8	5.7	6.0	5.2	5.6	5.7	5.5	5.4	5.6	5.3
West Virginia	6.5	6.4	5.5	5.8	5.9	6.1	5.7	6.3	6.0	6.0
Wisconsin	5.3	5.0	5.3	4.9	5.6	5.2	4.9	5.5	5.6	5.1
Wyoming	8.9	8.1	8.3	7.7	9.0	8.3	8.7	8.9	8.4	8.0
Puerto Rico	4.3	6.3	7.0	5.4	4.4	5.4	5.4	6.1	5.7	5.2
Virgin Islands	5.2	5.4	15.0	7.1	9.1	10.8	7.6	9.5	8.4	7.2
Footnotes (1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.