WHAT: The labor market is performing better than it has for some time, and the state is witnessing the return of a number of key labor indicators to their 2008 levels. Unfortunately, Rhode Island employment peaked all the way in December of 2006. As of January, the state has replaced only about two thirds of the jobs lost since that peak.
WHO: URI Professor of Economics Leonard Lardaro, creator and author of the Current Conditions Index.
WHEN: For release Monday, March 16, 2015
HOW: Use attached information, including summary and charts prepared by Lardaro for news reports. He is available for broadcast and print interviews. The new information and other historical information can also be found on Lardaro’s web site at http://www.llardaro.com/current.htm. Lardaro will be blogging about the new labor data during the coming weeks. Click here to find his discussion and charts.
FOR INFORMATION: Leonard Lardaro, office, 401-874-4128, home, 401-783-9563
Dave Lavallee, URI Department of Communications and Marketing, 401-874-5862.
BACKGROUND: The Current Conditions Index, created by Lardaro, measures the strength of the present economic climate in Rhode Island by following the behavior of 12 indicators.