Employment

Newport and the rest of Aquidneck Island depend heavily on the wholesale, retail trade and services catering to summer residents and tourists. There is a spike in hiring during the summer months. Those seeking professional and blue-collar positions frequently must commute 30 to 60 minutes yet, overall, employment prospects are fair.

The unemployment rate for Newport, according to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training as of April 2022, is 2.2%.

There are good employment prospects in the hospitality, retail, customer service, clerical and some medical fields.

Employment prospects on-station are available at Morale, Welfare and Education; Navy Exchange; Non-Appropriated Fund; and the Navy Federal Credit Union.

Rhode Island’s minimum wage for 2022 is $12.25 per hour and hourly rates run between that amount and $19.00.

NetWORKri is Rhode Island's one-stop career center system, a partnership of professional labor, training and education organizations. The netWORKri centers are conveniently located throughout the state where job seekers and employers are matched through quality employment programs and services. One-stops can be found in Pawtucket, Providence, West Warwick and Woonsocket.

Important Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training telephone numbers include:

• NetWORKri career center (Providence): 401-462-8900
• NetWORKri career center (West Warwick): 401-462-4100
• NetWORKri career center (Woonsocket): 401-235-1201
• Real Jobs Rhode Island: 401-462-7574
• Veteran Services/unemployment: 401-415-6772
• Veteran Services/workforce development: 888-616-JOBS or 888-616-5627

For job hunting purposes, be sure to hand-carry all employment records and documents, resumes, Standard Form 50, transcripts, certificates and licenses.

Naval Station Newport hosts a five-day Transition Assistance Program seminar eight times a year. In addition, there are four two-day seminars held each quarter (employment, entrepreneurship, vocational/technical and higher education). The Fleet and Family Support Center also offers workshops each month on employment issues.

The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program is a workforce development program that provides financial assistance for licenses, certifications or associate degrees to those pursuing an occupation or career.

For information on MyCAA, and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, visit Military OneSource.

The Department of Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (DoN COOL) represents the joint effort, close coordination and shared resources that support the Navy and Marine Corps COOL programs. Credentialing is becoming ever more important across the DoD, adding value for Sailors and Marines while they serve and as they transition to civilian life. DoN Civilians can also benefit from credentialing as part of their personal and professional development. DoN COOL reflects the Department of the Navy's ongoing commitment to Sailors, Marines, and Civilians in providing world class training, experience, and opportunities that will serve them well on active duty, Federal service, and post-service civilian careers.

For information on DoN COOL, visit https://www.cool.navy.mil/.

SkillBridge is an excellent opportunity as for service members as they plan for life after the military. SkillBridge matches civilian opportunities to job training and work experience at the end of their military duty. In addition to opportunities such as Tuition Assistance and the GI Bill program, service members can enhance their marketability and career prospects by participating in a SkillBridge opportunity.

Any rank, enlisted or officer, may apply for SkillBridge. SkillBridge permits service members to use up to the last 180 days of Service to train and learn with an industry partner. During SkillBridge participation service members continue to receive military compensation and they are covered by their military benefits. Release for SkillBridge is always mission-dependent and your unit Commander must authorize participation prior to entering into any agreement with interested industry employment partners.

For information on SkillBridge, visit https://skillbridge.osd.mil/.

In Rhode Island, voluntarily leaving without good cause: An individual who leaves work voluntarily without good cause shall be ineligible for waiting period credit or benefits for the week in which the voluntary quit occurred and until he or she establishes to the satisfaction of the director that he or she has subsequent to that leaving had at least eight weeks of work, and in each of those eight weeks has had earnings of at least 20 times the minimum hourly wage as defined in Chapter 12 of this title for performing services in employment for one or more employers subject to chapters 42-44 of this title. For the purposes of this section, voluntarily leaving work without good cause shall include voluntarily leaving work with an employer to accompany, join or follow his or her spouse in a new locality in connection with the retirement of his or her spouse.

Newport and the rest of Aquidneck Island depend heavily on the wholesale and retail trade and services catering to summer residents and tourists. There is a spike in hiring during the summer months. Rhode Island, smallest of the 50 states, is densely populated and highly industrialized. It is a major center for jewelry manufacturing, electronics, metal, plastic products, and boat and ship construction are among other important industries. Nonmanufacturing employment includes research in health, medicine and the ocean environment. Providence is a wholesale distribution center for New England.

Fishing ports are at Galilee and Newport. Rural areas of the state support small-scale farming, including grapes for local wineries, turf grass and nursery stock. Tourism generates over a billion dollars a year in revenue.

The unemployment rate for Newport, according to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training as of April 2022, is 2.2%.