RI Unemployment Reaches 25 Year High l Financial Crisis l WPRI.com

The numbers are in, and they're not good. Rhode Island's unemployment is at its highest rate since Feb.

[Jack]

I had a business in RI and i moved out this year
Tough to run with such high taxes

"they tax the hell out of you" thats true
i don't think there will be a rebound in 5 years

[Robert]

Sadly, the states in NEw England get a smaller proportion of tax dollars back from the Federal Government compared to what their residents pay. That includes RI, CT and Mass. Instead the poor southern states get most of the money.

[Coray]

My aunts pays as much yearly in property taxes as my great grandparents paid for the houses that they own. Until the people of Rhode Island learn to lower taxes, you can't expect any type of recovery. Love going to visit, but I'll take the low taxes in Ohio. AS for federal money, The people of the western states(Wyoming, Utah, Colorado) pay way more in mineral royalties and taxes then the east coast, and get back nearly nothing,(3 Highways in the whole state of Wyoming!(I25,I90,I80) I lived there and that is what those folks complain about) so Federal dollars have nothing to do with it.

[Cisco]

I feel sorry for the people of Rhode Island; their high unemployment and taxes aren't helping their situation any.
I live in Nevada, and this state keep trying to lure businesses (mainly from California) to move here and escape that state's high costs and taxes.
Workers in Nevada pay no income taxes also, but there's a lot of people out of work here too. I'm out of work also, and there's no telling how long its going to be before the economy, on a national
level, will begin to improve.

[Cody]

Too many nonworker bees and not enough worker bees. I saw which candidate RI carried...we haven't began to see what the taxes will be,today's tax will be cheap by comparison...just watch!

[Garry]

Poor southern states? My Alabama life= modern 4000 sf home on 4.5 acres has an annual tax of less than 1K. State income tax = 5%. Sales tax = 8%. Unemployment in my area (Huntsville) is ~3%. More jobs moving to this area than there are folk to fill them.

Short note: you folk built your terrible economy, live with it. Don't blame 'poor southern states', and for goodness sake please educate yourself so you can make the decisions neccessary to dig yourself out of the hole you've gotten yourselves into.

[Steven]

Ahhh... FREE TRADE! Well, what do you expect from a country that gave away all of our manufacturing base and then outsourced service jobs once the technology allowed that also. The Dot Com Bubble and the housing bubble hid the erroding effects of free trade. One last comment, please don't do that montra of "Failed Bush" stuff, the Democrats and Republicans BOTH spured this mess on our hands. Neither party is innocent of the Free Trade Mess. My 2 cents... if only I had 2 cents left :(

[Gabriel]

1)How would you define "worker bee?" Are overpaid CEO's considered the same type of "worker bee" as the bottom rung employee (that's actually doing the work)? What of "non-worker bees", are they defined as the unemployed or medicaid dependent? What about early retirees who live only on pensions and social security?

2)The unemployment level would suggest that there are enough worker bees, just not enough jobs for them.

I don't mind the debate on whether RI's high business tax is a good or bad thing, but weak political attacks should not be part of this discussion. Both parties are to blame for the ills we are in.

[Gabriel]

1)How would you define "worker bee?" Are overpaid CEO's considered the same type of "worker bee" as the bottom rung employee (that's actually doing the work)? What of "non-worker bees", are they defined as the unemployed or medicaid dependent. What about early retirees who live only on pensions and social security?

2)The unemployment level would suggest that there are enough worker bees, just not enough jobs for them.

I don't mind the debate on whether RI's high business tax is a good or bad thing, but weak political attacks should not be part of this discussion.

[CJP1]

Corrupt politicians were also shaking companies down. GTech headquarters canceled plans in RI because politicians wanted a "cut." With so many of those politicians/bloodsuckers in prison, maybe things will improve, but I agree about taxes. My friend has to sell her house b/c her property taxes just shot up a ton in one year. In a crappy area, too. And in Providence, the car taxes are even worse. Really. One year, my six thousand dollar cheapo honda cost me several thousand in taxes because it was new. Its utterly ridiculous.

[Nicole]

I am one of the statistics. I'm an "experienced non-manager" I recently had a 2nd interview for an administrative position, which, quite frankly, I'm overqualified for. I was told that there were over 150 resumes submitted for this one position. There are four of us left....keep your fingers crossed.

[seiscat]

Unions need to be more careful about keeping benefits and wages in line with other areas of the country if they want to exist. They do a lot of good overall, but often push costs up more than the market can support.

[Skeptic]

The chickens come home to roost in RI, the most corrupt state in the union.

[Skeptic]

If you've got a relative in government, you'll have a no show, highly paid job, this corruptness is rampant, plus, the social programs, I don't think there is another state with so many handouts.
The incentive to excel has disappeared, you don't need to do a good job here, just enough to get by.
thats what everyone expects. Also, the rudeness of
people here, they havent figured out, that's bad for business.

Cody wrote:

Too many nonworker bees and not enough worker bees. I saw which candidate RI carried...we haven't began to see what the taxes will be,today's tax will be cheap by comparison...just watch!

[RI SUCKS]

They need to sell this state to MASS or CT this is the worst state in the whole USA they need to abolish it, I hate living here, its awful. No jobs, expensive housing, etc.

It offers nothing good, and takes all. Rhode Island SUCKS.

[RI SUCKS THATS RIGHT]

CAN'T GET MY UNEMPLOYMENT BEACUSE THEY ARE BACKED UP!!! I FU@@@@@ HAVE KIDS TO FEED AS@HOLES!!!

[RI SUCKS]

RI SUCKS THATS RIGHT wrote:

CAN'T GET MY UNEMPLOYMENT BEACUSE THEY ARE BACKED UP!!! I FU@@@@@ HAVE KIDS TO FEED AS@HOLES!!!

Are u kidding me they f@@@king work from 8:00am to 11:45am on PURPOSE, no one is getting through we have been waiting for weeks, they dont give a shit becuase they have jobs, and are feeding their kids. THIS IS THE FU@@@KING worst state in the whole USA.
Stupid dumbasses its called hiring more people and working more hours so people can get their money and feed their kids, f@@cking governer, who has no set plans this is so stupid.
Im sorry your going through this as well as we are. Its insane. Try filing online, and calling save your confirmation number and tell them you already filed to hurry up and send you your money.

[RI SUCKS]

HAS anyone recieved their second unemployment extension letter? PLEASE let me know, that way I dont feel like I was left out.

Have not received mine yet. Dont know what is going on.

Damm.

[RI SUCKS]

I recieved my letter today, it states im entitled up to 7 weeks of extension.

7 weeks? I believed the bill stated it was 13 weeks to states with high unemployment 6% and higher. I dont understand ?>

Im sorry but 7 weeks is absolutely nothing, especially in Rhode Island where things are awful.

[doc]

art imitating life? there's even a show about it... brotherhood on showtime... geez i think everyone knows that ri politicians are crooks, but you know what? it's not going to change because it seems that every new crop of running candidates are all part of the same crooked group...