Rhode Island jobless rate remains at 7.6 percent after downward revision for August

Rhode Island's unemployment rate for September was 7.6 percent, the same as the rate for August after it was revised downward.

The state Department of Labor and Training reported the new figure on Thursday. The rate for August was originally reported as 7.7 percent.

The new report showed the number of unemployed residents was down 300, to 42,300, the lowest since May 2008. The figure has dropped for 14 straight months.

Labor officials also reported the number of jobs was up 400, to 478,900, from August and 5,900 from a year ago.

The size of the labor force, however, was down 700, to 555,800. Since last September, it has grown by 2,600.

The national unemployment rate stands at 5.9 percent.

Rhode Island's rate a year ago was 9.5 percent.