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What’s up with Rhode Island? 3 reasons why the state lags behind

Jeremy Hobson Mar 27, 2013
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What’s up with Rhode Island? 3 reasons why the state lags behind

Jeremy Hobson Mar 27, 2013
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Tomorrow, we’ll find out how many people applied for unemployment benefits last week. That number has been trending downward as the economy has improved around the country. But the job market isn’t getting better everywhere. In Rhode Island, the unemployment rate remains at 9.8 percent — tied for the highest in the nation with California.

Leonard Lardaro, professor of economics at the University of Rhode Island, shares his top three reasons why Rhode Island is lagging behind.

1. Unfriendly to businesses. Rhode Island ranked as the worst state for business in 2012 according to a CNBC survey of all 50 states. Lardaro says Rhode Island’s leaders need to reform the state’s tax and cost structure to compete.

2. Lacks high quality K-12 education. Rhode Island ranked 20th in education. Neighbors Massachusetts and Connecticut ranked 1st and 5th respectively. Lardaro says this leads to a lack of skilled labor.

3. Compares poorly to neighbor states in tech jobs. According to Lardaro, Rhode Island has had a declining population since 2004, as residents leave for jobs in other states such as Massachusetts. And of those that do live in Rhode Island, many commute to a neighboring state for work. Lardaro says this brain-drain leaves Rhode Island with an uneven and insecure economy.

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